Category: Call To Action

  • Action 164. Vaccines! Comment!

    Background:  Universal access to COVID and other vaccines must be guaranteed to preserve public health. The public has an immediateopportunity to oppose moves to restrict vaccine access by submitting a “Public Comment” at the upcoming meeting of RFK Jr’s newly appointed “vaccine advisory committee” (now possibly full of anti-vaxxers.) The flood of comments needs to be a tsunami in support of the lifesaving efficacy of vaccines, i.e. in support of actual medical science, not quackery! If you need background and talking points see the first link in Extra Credit.  Who knows if any of the RFK appointees have a conscience, or can be swayed by an outpouring of public opposition, or just might pay attention to facts? We have to try. 

    Here is what the Federal Register tells us about the meeting: Matters to be Considered: The agenda will include discussions on COVID–19 vaccines; Hepatitis B vaccine; measles, mumps, rubella, varicella (MMRV) vaccine; and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). The agenda will include updates on ACIP Workgroups. Recommendation votes may be scheduled for COVID–19 vaccines, Hepatitis B vaccine, MMRV vaccine, and RSV. Vaccines for Children (VFC) may be scheduled for COVID–19 vaccines, Hepatitis B vaccine, MMRV vaccine, and RSV. Agenda items are subject to change as priorities dictate. For more information on the meeting agenda, visit https://www.cdc.gov/acip/ meetings/index.html. Meeting Information: The meeting will be webcast live via the World Wide Web. For more information on ACIP, please visit the ACIP website: https:// http://www.cdc.gov/acip.

    Action: Written public comments must be received by the CDC via Regulations.gov no later than September 13, 2025 at 11:59 pm Eastern Daylight Time.  Here are Step-By-Step Submission Instructions:

    Step 1. Go to Regulations.gov  and search for Docket CDC-2025-0454-0001. Here is a direct link where you can download the proposal from the Federal Register: https://www.regulations.gov/document/CDC-2025-0454-0001

    Step 2. Type your comment under the field, “Comment.” (Note: there is a 5000 character limit. If you would like to write more, upload your comment as a PDF document.)

    Step 3 (optional). Submit a PDF or Word version of your comment, or scientific articles or other evidence, under “Attach Files.”

    Step 4. What is your comment about? Select Federal Government

    Step 5. Select either “Individual” or “Anonymous” depending on whether you want to share your personal information that will be publicly available on the Federal Register.

    Step 6. If selecting “Individual,” provide your first and last name at minimum. If you select “Anonymous,” directly submit a comment without sharing your personal information.

    Step 7. Click “Submit Comment.”

    Urgency:  Sept. 13

    Extra Credit:

    https://www.cdc.gov/acip/meetings/index.html#cdc_toolkit_main_toolkit_cat_3-upcoming-meetings.

    Here is a list of members from the website: we do not know their current status. 

    https://www.cdc.gov/acip/membership/index.html

    This very worthy action item was sent to us by Indivisible Waldo County. 

  • Action Monday, Sept. 8, Bangor: The Next Nationwide No Kings Protest, “No on 1” Canvass, Make Some Calls!, and Mid Maine Indivisible

    Action Monday, Sept. 8, Bangor: The Next Nationwide No Kings Protest, “No on 1” Canvass, Make Some Calls!, and Mid Maine Indivisible

    Welcome to all the new members on our mailing list!  Will we get rain this weekend? We sure need it up here! Here is today’s call to action from us at Indivisible Bangor, followed by the great list of important actions from our friends at Mid Maine Indivisible. AND new actions from Hancock Country Democrats and Bold Coast Civic Alliance (9/8).


    ***SAVE THE DATE – nationwide No Kings Protest!***
    ***October 18, 2025***

    No Kings is a peaceful movement of millions of Americans from all walks of life rising up to make it clear: We don’t do dictators or kings in America. We never will. We’re organizing and taking action to defend each other and our communities, demand dignity, and say enough to all of the Trump administration’s power grabs.

    Millions of us took to the streets in June, and we’re doing it again on Saturday, October 18. Stay tuned for more details on our local Indivisible Bangor action now being planned!!


    Stop Avelo Protest – Portland Jetport

    On Saturday, September 13 at 1:00 p.m, join Indivisible Greater Portland Maine for their next Stop Avelo Protest at the entrance to the Portland Jetport. They will meet at the intersection of Jetport and Johnson Road. Bring your signs, flags, and voices!


    Volunteers are needed

    The next Save Maine Absentee Voting Canvass in Brewer, Sunday September 14th, 2025, and we need your help! We need to educate Maine voters that Question 1 on November’s ballot is about a whole lot more than just “Voter I.D.,” but also includes many more voter suppression provisions.  And check out the latest Hancock County Action Alert on this!


    Speaking of Save Maine Absentee Voting, there is a LOT of misinformation out there concerning Question 1, the voter suppression question that will be on the ballot THIS November.

    Help spread the word about how this is written to make voting more difficult for voters by restricting access to absentee ballots, a method of voting that thousands of us Mainers use every election.

    Visit the Save Maine Absentee Voting site to learn more. Then speak to your friends, your family, your neighbors, and even strangers! And write a letter to the editor-there are letters weekly playing this down, calling it “common sense” legislation! This is part of the MAGA playbook and we can stop it!


    Maine Rising UpTuesday, September 16th, 2025, 6:00 pm

    Making Good Trouble with Ezra Levin – A Maine Indivisible Fall Kickoff event in Gorham, Maine!!  Join Indivisible groups from across Maine to launch a bold new campaign this fall centered around the principle of non-cooperation / non-compliance—a form of lawful, nonviolent resistance that refuses to enable or normalize authoritarian rule.


    Graham Platner in Brewer Thursday, October 9th

    “We’ll be at the Eastern Maine Labor Council Hall from 6:00pm-7:00pm on. I hope you’ll come and check out this movement we’re building to defeat Susan Collins and her multi-billionaire backers. Come out, ask questions, and bring a friend or three. I’ll see you there.”


    Make Some Calls!

    It’s mentioned a few times in these newsletters about calling your representatives in Washington, D.C. It’s one of the most important things we can do and it’s so easy! The telephone numbers to the four Maine representatives in Washington are always listed in this newsletter, but for those of you reading this who live in another state, the site 5calls.org is the best way to find the contact info for your reps. AND, they have a list of the important issues to discuss when calling. It’s a super source and it’s easy to remember! Call early and often!


    California Redistricting Question-they need your help!

    The California redistricting question, Proposition 50, will be on their ballot this November. This is intended to be a voter-approved plan to counter the Trump-directed gerrymandering that Gov. Abbot enacted in Texas to give Republicans five more seats in the House.

    If you’d like to help, there are phone banking opportunities! Help out our fellow Americans in California with their “Yes on 50” campaign from the comfort of your home here in beautiful Maine!


    Join Indivisible Bangor!

    Do you want to become more involved? Would you like to help with the website and communications? How about helping to organize events, such as rallies and overpass actions or be a peacekeeper? Volunteer with Indivisible Bangor! We have had a huge influx of new members these past few months and to keep up, YOUR skills, connections, and input are needed! 

    Weekly member meetings are on Zoom with in-person meetings on the first Wednesday of the month. Please click the button to sign up and we’ll help you with the process of becoming a member of Indivisible Bangor! New members, and current members, too, are invited to join one of our monthly Zoom informational meetings!


    One of our members has started a letter/petition to the President of the University of Maine at Orono to preserve their DEI policies.

    “In March, 2025 the university changed their DEI names to the Office of Community and Connections but conveyed that they would maintain their DEI policies in spite of their name changes. However, some people are concerned that the university could subsequently change their DEI policies in addition to their DEI names, as pressures mount on them from the Trump administration. I therefore think it is worthwhile to demonstrate support from various constituencies to maintain the DEI policies at the university.”

    The petition is open to signatures from anyone supportve of maintaining DEI policies at the university, regardless of whether or not you are affiliated with the school. Please sign!


    We are on Blue Sky!

    Check us out on this social media site that is similar to that other one that has changed hands recently, but with less nonsense! Follow us! Invite your friends!


    The ACLU Maine has a “Know Your Rights” plan for students going back to school. “Politicians are attacking students’ and teachers’ rights throughout the country, including here in Maine – but as the Supreme Court ruled in 1969, students do not ‘shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate.’” Click the button for these important details.


    We have an easy way to donate to Indivisible Bangor. Drop off your returnable bottles and cans to Ohio Street Redemption in Bangor and tell them to put it on the account of Dave Cox. They’ll add the money to our kitty, mail out a regular check, and the money goes to our bank account to help with our expenses! You can find them here! Thank you!

    And you can donate here, too! Donations help pay for supplies, website, outreach, and to fund the many upcoming actions in Maine.


    And please check out the latest Action from Hancock County Democrats, “Action 161. RFK Jr Death cult?” Past actions are listed here.

    Lastly, our friends at the Bold Coast Civic Alliance have drawn up a super handy list of items we can address (9/3). Check it out here!

    Thank you for all you do! – Dave from Indivisible Bangor

    And now to the Mid Maine Indivisible morning Call to Action!

    ~~~

    Action Monday September 8th: Ask Our Congressional Representatives to Demand Covid Vaccine Access for All + Ask Governor Mills to Form a New England Health Alliance for Vaccine Guidance

    From

    Hi Folks, it’s Monday and we have a whole week of action ahead.  As Pogo says “we are surrounded by insurmountable opportunities” to act. If everyone did just one thing each week our movement would grow exponentially. Thank you all for taking the time and energy to engage. 

    Ask our Congressional representatives to demand that the Bureau of Health and Human Services change its guidance to allow all of us access to Covid 19 vaccines. Currently the access is limited to people 65 and older, and those with immunological conditions.

    Ask Governor Mills to join with other New England States to form a health alliance and issue vaccine guidance for our area as California, Oregon and Washington have done. 

    Our health as individuals and as a community is at stake. 

    Consider volunteering for Graham Platner’s campaign for US Senate. Go here.

    TODAY’S ACTION (s)

    • Call our Congress People and ask them to demand that the CDC follow science and change its vaccine guidance: Currently they are only advising that 65+ folks and people with immune compromised conditions get the vaccine.  Go to  5calls.org for the details.
    • Call or email Governor Mills to form a health alliance with other New England states to give Vaccine Guidance: Washington, California and Oregon have done this; it could help to maintain the health and herd immunity of our populations in the NorthEast.
    • Consider volunteering and/or donating to Graham Platner’s campaign for US Senate: He is the real deal. A progressive Mainer who will take on Susan Collins with no fear. Volunteer/donate here.
    • From Earlier 
    • Call Senators King and Collins and ask them to oppose the nomination of EJ Antoni for Commissioner of Labor Statistics:  Why? This position is supposed to be non-partisan so economists can base their plans for the economy on it. Antoni has made it clear he is a Trump loyalist, and will slant the figures he uses to show that Trump and Co. are doing a great job. Go here for the five calls.org piece on this.
    • Get a poster/chalking campaign going in your neighborhood – there are telephone poles everywhere:  Indivisible Cumberland County has some great ones you can use – click here – this will lead you to an email you can send to Jennifer Morris. We have attached their poster ideas at the bottom of this email. Contact Karen for the Mid Maine Poster Campaign.Design your own signs and/or get an artist to design some for you. Remember poles belong to CMP and overtly political statements may be subject to legal action, however they seem to be ok with lost cats and dogs. Audacity in the Midcoast has called for Chalking “Truth Matters” on every public surface – roads and sidewalks! I would also recommend “Resist”.
    • Consider Boycotting American Companies that support the Israeli Military in Gaza and Illegal Israeli Settlements on the West Bank. Go here to get a list of companies to boycott.
    • Start thinking about how we can involve young people in the resistance. High Schoolers, College Age folk have not bought in to the movement in any significant numbers.
    • Ask Janet Mills to join other Blue States to call for a redistricting of Maine so that Democratic candidates have the edge in the second district, if and only if other states join Texas in redistricting to the Republican advantage. For talking points on this go here.
    • Start a Poster/Chalking Campaign in Your Neighborhood! Go here for ideas and check in with Karen about a postering campaign in Mid Maine.
    • If you are in the Mid Coast area consider joining Audacity – learn more here.
    • Stand Up for Palestinan Rights – support the efforts of Oasis For Peace a Jewish/Palestinian community in Israel, and demand that our Congressional representatives support the ending of US provision of offensive weapons to Israel.
    • If you know your Maine Representative or Senator is supportive of making ICE accountable in Maine,  ask them to join with Representative Cassie Julia to put in a bill to ensure proper identification of ICE agents acting in Maine. Lawmakers in California have introduced legislation requiring the identity and affiliation of ICE agents to be displayed while interacting with the public. 

    Angus King             
    DC: (202) 224-5344
    Augusta: (207) 622-8292 

    Susan Collins         
    DC: (202) 224-2523 
    Augusta: (207) 622-8414
    Bangor: (207) 945-0417

    Chellie Pingree      
    DC: (202) 225-6116
    Portland: (207) 774-5019  
    Waterville: (207) 873-5713  

    Jared Golden         
    DC: (202) 225-6306 
    Bangor: (207) 249-7400
    Caribou: (207) 492-6009 
    Lewiston: (207) 241-6767

    Find Your State Senator: Here

    Find your State Representative: 
    By nameHere
    By district: Here

    LOCAL ACTIONS: Join Mid Maine Indivisible(Kennebec and Somerset Counties) Please join us if you are in the Mid Maine area.  To sign up: go here

    Are you interested in helping New Mainers learn/improve their English?  To sign up for English tutoring or any of our other volunteer opportunities, please visit: Capital Area New Mainers Project (CANMP) to fill out a volunteer interest survey. An English Learning option at the Waterville library at 1:00 on Mondays is also an option for volunteers. Contact CANMP for the details. You can also Donate to the Capitol Area New Mainers Project’s rapid response fund. CANMP is actively helping those affected by ICE abductions, both with legal funding and other financial support for family members

    Tuesday, September 9th: 12:00-1:00 (and every Tuesday)  Stand against Tesla/Musk and the rising authoritarian state: around the Tesla Charging Station Elm Plaza on Main Street, Waterville.  
    Wednesday, September 10th: (and every Wednesday) 12:00-1:00 Waterville, Maine. Corner of Main and Chaplin St. Grandmothers for Reproductive Rights, GRR! demonstrates every Wednesday across from Resolve, the local anti-abortion center. Please join us in assuring all Mainers have access to safe, legal, shame-free reproductive health care including abortions and contraceptive care. For more info please contact Elayne Richard  at recordconnection@gmail.com

    Thursday, September 11th: 4 – 5 pm, Fairfield/Benton Bridge,  Stop the Coup + Save Democracy.

    First Saturday of each Month at 2:30: Somerset Stands Up Rallies-Margaret Chase Smith Bridge, downtown Skowhegan. Bring your signs, American flags, your voice, your friends, families and neighbors for this peaceful gathering of concerned residents of Somerset County. 

    MORE ACTIONS

    Sunday, September 14th: 1:00 (and every Sunday): Stand with us against Trump/Stephen Miller; For Peace in the Middle East, For Ukraine, Stop the War in Iran, etc. on the Bridge by CVS in Waterville.

    Note:  September 14th 2 -4pm at the Searsmont Library ALL FOUR DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR will be on a panel facilitated by Murray Carpenter. More info here.

    *Consider supporting Graham Platner who has announced his run against Collins. He is an electrifying speaker, with good positions on the important issues. His entry will force Mills to make a decision on her run. Volunteer here.

    *If you prefer, write your letter to Governor Mills thanking her for her stand against Trump, and asking her to run against Collins. Hand written if possible.  Mail to: State House Station 1, Augusta, Maine, 04333. A primary between Mills and Platner would be awesome!

    *If you would like to join Maine People’s Alliance Federal Lobby Group, please contact Jim Parakilas at jamesparakilas@gmail.com. We meet Mondays at 2 pm. Consider joining the MPA for trainings in June and July on resistance strategy, lobbying, and other areas. Contact Jim on this.

    With great appreciation for all the engagement everywhere! 

    As always, throw a little sand in their gears! 

    -Mid Maine Indivisible

  • Bold Coast Civic Alliance Action Items- Monday, September 8th

    Action Items to choose from (or do all of them: your choice!) Scroll down to the matching number of your option: 

    1. Call or email Janet Mills and urge her to take the Come and Take It Pledge and fight back against Republican redistricting 
    2. Demand that our state use its resources to fight the federal power grab 
    3. Keep the Epstein files front and center 
    4. Keep fighting to get rid of RFK, Jr. 
    5. Fight the Save Act–both Maine’s version and the federal version
    6. Save our National Forests 
    7. Chalk our message everywhere it’s legal to do so (sidewalks and roadways) 

    Reminder: When you call vs when you email via our reps’ websites (best way to contact them in writing), don’t forget to begin with: “Hi, my name is [name] and I’m a constituent calling from [zip code]. That is important, because if they don’t know you’re actually a constituent, your opinion will be ignored. 

    Contact info: 

    Senator Susan Collins:  

    Email: http://www.collins.senate.gov/contact/email-senator-collins/form  

    Phone: (202) 224-2523 (DC office), (207) 945-0417 (Bangor office) 

    Senator Angus King:  

    Email http://www.king.senate.gov/contact 

    Phone: (202) 224-5344 (DC office), (207) 945-8000 (Bangor office) 

    Representative Jared Golden: 

    Email: golden.house.gov/contact 

    Phone: (202) 224-3121 (DC office), (207) 249-7400 (Bangor office) 

    (Please note that for those of you receiving this email who are not represented by Senators or House members in our district, I have to leave it up to you to find the contact info for your own representatives.) 

    Actions 

    1)      Call or email Janet Mills and urge her to take the Come and Take It Pledge and fight back against Republican redistricting: 

        She should do the same thing Governor Newsom has done, and push to respond with reciprocal redistricting in Maine so that Democratic candidates have the edge in the second district, if and only if other states join Texas in redistricting to the advantage of Republicans: 

         To call: https://indivisible.quorum.us/campaign/redistricting-call-comeandtakeit/  

         To email: https://indivisible.quorum.us/campaign/redistricting-email-solidarity-states/ 

    2)      Demand that our state use its resources to fight the federal power grab

         Yes, I’m repeating the action from my last email. I feel this is something we really have to grab hold of with both hands and start acting on in big way. And do call, if you can, rather than email. Everything I’ve been reading says that phone calls have exponentially greater impact than emails. Let’s make some good trouble at our state level by urging our officials  to exercise their powers under states’ rights to nullify unconstitutional actions/orders by the federal government: 

    And, of course, contact your representatives in the state legislature, which depends on your district: 

              To learn more about what is in these lawmakers’ power to do:  

    https://rachelandthecity.substack.com/p/you-cant-sue-the-government-like

    https://cmarmitage.substack.com/p/blue-states-have-90-days-to-kill

    https://cmarmitage.substack.com/p/its-time-for-americans-to-start-talking\

              To see some scripts for these calls (be sure to personalize them, though!): 

    https://cmarmitage.substack.com/p/5-phone-calls-can-stop-american-fascism

    3)      Keep the Epstein files front and center: 
         A discharge petition to force a House vote on a bill requiring the Justice Department to release the Epstein files within 30 days. Right now, 2 more votes are necessary to reach the required number required to compel the vote. Four Republicans and all Democrats have signed on, and the rest of the Republicans are under huge pressure from the administration and Mike Johnson to not sign on. But there are currently 4 vacant seats in the house, three of which are in deep blue districts where the Democrat is expected to prevail in special elections slated for later this year. Two of those elections will happen this month, and both of the Democratic candidates are vowing to sign the petition as soon as they arrive on Capitol Hill.   
         Call Jared Golden to thank him for signing on to the discharge petition, but also to ask him to urge his Republican colleagues to cross over and do the right thing. Write a letter to the editor. We want to make sure our lawmakers in Congress know that we’re not letting this get swept under the carpet. 

         Of course, if you’re registered to vote in another state—not Maine—and have a Republican representative, call them asap and demand that they sign on to the discharge petition. 

    4)      Keep fighting to get rid of RFK, Jr: 

         He’s systematically destroying all legitimate healthcare in the U.S. and the lives of all Americans. His lunatic depredations—attacks on public health and essential scientific research, extreme vaccine denialism, conspiracy theories, and harmful “alternative” treatments—must stop.  

         Call Senator Collins, Senator King, and Representative Golden to demand that they move to impeach and fire Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. as Health Secretary. 

    5)      Fight the SAVE Act—both Maine’s version and the federal version: 
         Currently, the Tea Party Patriots Action (TPPA) group is in the middle of a countrywide bus tour to, among other things, promote the anti-voter legislation known as the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act. They’re calling on Congress to attach the policy to either a budget resolution, an omnibus spending bill or the annual National Defense Authorization Act, so the SAVE Act would be forced through as part of avoiding a government shutdown this fall.  
        Maine’s upcoming referendum is similar: Both claim to be protecting the integrity of our elections, but both are really designed to limit who can actually vote. Both need to be stopped. 
    Call Senators Susan Collins and Angus King to demand that they vote against the SAVE Act. 
         Continue to do everything you can—talking to people, writing letters to the editor, putting up signs, chalking sidewalks and streets (see Action #7)—to let Mainers know that they should vote NO on this referendum no matter how sensible the Republicans make it sound. They are lying. People need to understand that this is a voter suppression bill—no more, no less. 
     

    6)      Save our National Forests: 
         The public comment period for the USDA’s next step in rescinding the 2001 Roadless Rule closes on September 19th, 2 weeks from now. They are trying to claim that this is a necessary move to protect the forests from wildfires, but proper forest management is all that’s needed, not logging and development of these old forests. Get your comments in now: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/08/29/2025-16581/special-areas-roadless-area-conservation-national-forest-system-lands 
     

    7)      Chalk our message everywhere it’s legal to do so (a messaging idea from Mid Maine Indivisible): 
         Be prepared: Carry a piece of sidewalk chalk around with you for those moments when inspiration and opportunity strike! Chalk something like RESIST or DEFEND DEMOCRACY on the sidewalk or road. It’s not illegal, it might feel empowering, and who knows who you might inspire to join the resistance!  

    Yours in Civic Action, 

    Bold Coast Civic Alliance

  • Action 160. Labor Day

    Background: If you aren’t familiar with the origins of the holiday, here’s a link to the Wikipedia article about it.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labor_Day  Scroll down to see the history of US Labor Day vs. May Day, and on what date Labor Day will fall in the future!  Frances Perkins, that amazing woman who was the prime mover behind much of the New Deal as well as our first Secretary of Labor (1), finally has a National Monument in the form of her Newcastle homestead (2), which you can go visit – maybe September 7 when there will be an event in her honor. (3) What is happening to our nation as Trump and his merry band of fascists attempt to undo all her good work is a travesty that must not stand.  

    Actions:

    Labor Day Monday Sept. 1 Peaceful protest in Ellsworth. A flyer is attached. Come in the morning for the standout on High Street, stay for the rally and march in the afternoon.  Some have questioned why the emphasis that protests be nonviolent.  Answers include: (a) we don’t want to provide any excuse for reciprocal violence on the part of the fascist thugs the Trump administration has been hiring, (b) if you create violence, in the ensuing mayhem some very vulnerable people (e.g. elderly, children, disabled) who are protesting beside you may be severely injured, and (c) violence simply does not align with our values. However, to be non-violent does NOT mean to be wishy-washy!  Make a sign that hits hard and doesn’t mince words!  Print and post the attached flyer locally and on any of your social media.

    Blue Hill Fair Aug 28- Sept 1 Attend and Talk to people!  The Hancock County Dems have a booth, and your participation would be very much appreciated. Contact Lin Gould (lingould347@gmail.com) to volunteer for an open slot and find out what’s involved.  Free fair admission!  A chance to inform and engage with a wide variety of voters and learn what’s on their minds!  The insights you gain will be valuable going forward into election season. And you might convince some people to vote who otherwise would have skipped the important November 4 2025 Maine election. 

    Door to door canvass in your town.  Right after Labor Day, Democrats start hitting the roads to tell people about Referendum Question 1 and encourage people to VOTE NO on November 4.  This is vitally important.  Contact your town Dem chair for how you can get involved. (And visit Save Maine Absentee Voting).

    Watch a short youtube video.  We concur with Emanuel Pariser’s recommendation to watch Robert Reich’s “Five Ways to Fight Facism”, and talk to your friends and family about it. (4) 
    “The future is watching”!

    Extra Credit:

    (1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frances_Perkins

    (2) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frances_Perkins_National_Monument

    (3) https://francesperkinscenter.org/social-security-90th-anniversary/
    (4) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8W-lVRQQGtI

  • Action 158 November ‘25 voting

    Background:  Now that the “dog days of summer” (1) are officially over and the campaign season is just beginning, we defenders of democracy have our work cut out for us for the next two months!

    November 4, 2025
     is the date for municipal general elections and the state referendum vote. Registration deadline by mail is Tuesday October 14. In-person, the deadline is on voting day, but it’s best to register beforehand, and also to check to be sure you are still registered.  Online registration is here: https://registertovote.sos.maine.gov.  Up for our vote on Nov. 4 is Referendum Question 1, which MUST be defeated.  It’s clearly designed as a voter suppression measure.  The Question is titled “An Act to Require an Individual to Present Photographic Identification for the Purpose of Voting” but this title is highly misleading, as this is not by any means all that the vote entails. The measure will severely curtail absentee voting, which in 2024 was the voting method of choice of 40% of Mainers, including 60% of Seniors.  Question 1 particularly disenfranchises people with disabilities, rural voters, seniors, and working people.  Among its provisions: it prevents you from ordering your ballot by phone, or having your family member or caregiver pick one up for you.  

    The actual language on the referendum question reads “Do you want to change Maine election laws to eliminate two days of absentee voting, prohibit requests for absentee ballots by phone or family members, end ongoing absentee voter status for seniors and people with disabilities, ban prepaid postage on absentee ballot return envelopes, limit the number of drop boxes, require voters to show certain photo ID before voting, and make other changes to our elections?”  Several of those “other changes” are highly problematic.  Download and read the complete language here:| Legislation (Word)  The whole bit about requiring a photo ID is a sneaky and underhanded red herring (2).  There is an infinitesimal amount of voter fraud in Maine, never remotely enough to change election outcomes (3).  The proponents are cynically using the requirement for a photo ID as a sanitizing cover-up to make voting harder for anyone who might tend to vote for a Democrat.  We shouldn’t fall for this ruse, nor let our friends and neighbors fall for it. 

    Also up for our vote on Nov. 4 are MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.  You can have a huge impact here!  For many years the right wingers have recognized the power in motivating the grass roots.  We defenders of democracy must do the same.  No longer can we take for granted that the nation will be governed responsibly without any effort on our part.  We have to get out of our comfort zone and recruit, or volunteer ourselves, for local office.

    Actions:
    You can help defeat Question 1 by:


    You can help recruit people for local office! Focus on town elections.  For instance, Ellsworth has two school board seats and  three city council seats up (perennial and deeply unqualified candidate John Linnehan has apparently taken out papers). Find out what is coming up in YOUR town and recruit a good candidate!


    Urgency:  Make a plan of what you are going to do, and start implementing it right after Labor Day.

    Extra Credit:

    (1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog_days

    (2) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_herring

    (3) https://www.maine.gov/sos/news/secretary-state-condemns-false-allegations-voter-fraud
          https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/debunking-voter-fraud-myth

  • Bold Coast Civic Alliance Action Items – Friday, August 15th

    Action Items to choose from (or do all of them: your choice!) Scroll down to the matching number of your option: 

    1. Contact Senators King and Collins to oppose the nomination of E.J. Antoni as the Commissioner of the Board of Labor Statistics 
    2. Tell Congress to take back its power and reverse Trump’s damaging tariffs 
    3. Support bills to mitigate the negative effects of the Big Bad Bill 
    4. Save our VA hospitals 
    5. Consider supporting Washington, D.C., becoming a state 
    6. Fight the EPA’s planned repeal of the 2009 “Endangerment Finding” rule 

    Reminder: When you call vs when you email via our reps’ websites (best way to contact them in writing), don’t forget to begin with: “Hi, my name is [name] and I’m a constituent calling from [zip code]. That is important, because if they don’t know you’re actually a constituent, your opinion will be ignored. 

    Contact info: 

    Angus King             
    DC: (202) 224-5344
    Augusta: (207) 622-8292 

    Susan Collins         
    DC: (202) 224-2523 
    Augusta: (207) 622-8414
    Bangor: (207) 945-0417

    Chellie Pingree      
    DC: (202) 225-6116
    Portland: (207) 774-5019  
    Waterville: (207) 873-5713  

    Jared Golden         
    DC: (202) 225-6306 
    Bangor: (207) 249-7400
    Caribou: (207) 492-6009 
    Lewiston: (207) 241-6767

    (Please note that for those of you receiving this email who are not represented by Senators or House members in our district, I have to leave it up to you to find the contact info for your own representatives.) 

    Actions 

    1)      Contact Senators King and Collins to oppose the nomination of E.J. Antoni as the Commissioner of the Board of Labor Statistics

         Antoni is part of the Heritage Foundation, which was the driving force behind Project 2025. In keeping with that institution’s drive toward Christian nationalism, Antoni’s doctoral dissertation from Northern Illinois University thanks his “spiritual patrons: Our Lady of Victory, St. Joseph, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Jude, St. Joseph of Cupertino, and Sts. Peter and Paul. Thank you, most especially, to Our Lord, with whom anything is possible.” Antoni is known primarily for media work, including appearances on the Fox News Channel, where he has relentlessly cheered on Trump’s policies. 

         Dominic Pino of the conservative National Review wrote today that Antoni is “nowhere near qualified to be BLS commissioner,” noting that “he has demonstrated time and again that he does not understand economic statistics.” As J.V. Last of The Bulwark notes, destroying faith in statistics by cooking the books is actually Trump’s plan, illustrated in his announcement of Antoni’s nomination when he wrote: “Our Economy is booming, and E.J. will ensure that the Numbers released are Honest and Accurate.” Project 2025 calls for consolidating the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the Census Bureau, and Bureau of Labor Statistics into a single office and aligning their “mission with conservative principles,” as well as putting as many loyalists into statistical positions as possible. 

    (Credit for the above information goes to Heather Cox Richardson) 

         This man should not be allowed any position of power in our government, let alone one where he will cook the books for Trump and Project 2025.  

         You can also sign a Resistbot letter about this to our senators by texting SIGN PFBABY to 50409, or to @Resistbot on Apple Messages, Messenger, Instagram, or Telegram. 

    2)      Tell Congress to take back its power and reverse Trump’s damaging tariffs: 
         Prices are rising, and it is pretty clear that the blame lies square on Trump’s tariffs. Among other sources, see https://apnews.com/article/producer-prices-inflation-trump-tariffs-economy-0f6613cc6f9e1b76939fdcf2c9ad8d03    
         Call Senators Angus King and Susan Collins and Rep. Jared Golden to demand that they push both houses of Congress to take back its power and reverse the tariffs. According to the Constitution, only Congress can set tariffs on foreign countries. So Congress should be able to stop these ridiculous economy-killing tariffs. 

    3)      Support bills to mitigate the negative effects of the Big Bad Bill: 
         Senate Democrats have introduced two pieces of legislation to reverse the worst of the cuts in Trump’s Big Bad Bill: The Protecting Healthcare and Lowering Costs Act (S. 2556) to repeal the healthcare cuts, and the Lowering Electric Bills Act (S. 2681) to reverse his take hikes on clean energy. Contact Angus King and Susan Collins to demand that both Senators support both bills.  
         Contact Representative Golden to urge him to support H.R. 4849, the Protecting Health Care and Lowering Costs Act of 2025.  
     

    4)      Save VA hospitals: 
         According to a new report, every single VA Hospital in the country is facing critical staff shortages. These shortages are a direct result of DOGE cuts and other Trump policies. That is utterly shameful for a country that claims to revere its veterans, the men and women who have laid their lives on the line for our freedoms.  
         Contact our Senators and House Rep to urge them to demand the immediate restoration of the previously Congress-allocated funding. 
     

    5)      If you agree, support Washington, D.C. becoming a state: 
         There are bills in the Senate (S. 51) and the House (H.R. 51) to grant DC statehood. If you agree that this should happen, urge our senators and house rep to support these bills. I believe Jared Golden voted against it, or at least declined to cosponsor it in the House; King has not yet joined as a cosponsor in the Senate; I don’t expect Collins to support it, but we should demand that she do it anyway. 
     

    6)      Fight the EPA’s planned repeal of the 2009 “Endangerment Finding” rule:  
         The EPA’s original 2009 Endangerment Finding and Greenhouse Gas Vehicle Standards established that greenhouse gases like CO2 and methane “threaten the public health and welfare of current and future generations” and set the stage for regulations to limit greenhouse gas emissions across the economy. Now they want to repeal all that. This repeal “would not only erase all current limits on greenhouse gas pollution from cars, factories, power plants, and other sources. It would prevent future administrations from trying to tackle climate change, with lasting implications.” (The New York Times, https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/03/climate/trump-epa-endangerment-finding-climate-change.html?unlocked_article_code=1.eE8.46fu.6gbHqjVkCooS&smid=url-share ) 

         This proposed repeal would be an enormous step backwards for our country, effectively making pollution of air, water, and land the standard by which we will must all live…and die. There is nothing positive about this for anyone except the dirty energy companies. Next thing  you know, they’ll be making seat belts and cancer warnings on cigarette packs illegal, and Energy Star appliances will be replaced by required installation of coal-burning appliances.  
         Bottom line: The Environmental Protection Agency wants to eliminate its own authority to combat climate change and fight for public health. That is insane.  
         The EPA’s Proposed Rule for Reconsideration of 2009 Endangerment Finding and Greenhouse Gas Vehicle Standards is open for public comment NOW through Sep 15. Here’s the link to review the proposed rule and submit a comment (use the green “submit a public comment” button near the top right):  https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/08/01/2025-14572/reconsideration-of-2009-endangerment-finding-and-greenhouse-gas-vehicle-standards?     

       They need to hear from as many people as possible to hopefully stop this repeal from happening. 

    Yours in Civic Action, 

    Bold Coast Civic Alliance

  • Action 157. Do something Sept. 1

    From our friends at Hancock County Democrats:

    Background. This year Labor Day falls on September 1, just three weeks away.  Every day it becomes more obvious that the Trump regime is working overtime to destroy our representative democracy and the rule of law, all in the service of a narcissistic sociopath and a cadre of the obscenely rich, the cowards, and the sycophants. As the national economy degrades, along with the government services on which workers and the middle class have come to rely, one would think that the people who will be the most adversely impacted would be up in arms and eager to protest.  But so far, planning for a big Labor Day nationwide demonstration seems to be proceeding in a sluggish fashion, if at all.  Maybe because it’s so darn hot.  Maybe because people are trying to enjoy the last morsels of summer fun before we knuckle down to serious business as kids go back to school and we gear up for November elections (and to defeat Question 1 on the Maine ballot!).  Maybe it’s because Maine people are, as usual, looking forward to Labor Day as marking our relief from all the tourists and visitors. One can only hope that we haven’t “thrown in the towel”!  To inspire you, please read Robert Reich’s piece from this morning. It’s brief, just a bit over 500 words, and worth a couple of minutes.  https://open.substack.com/pub/robertreich/p/seeking-the-good

    On Labor Day (thus far) in Maine: 

    Activate Maine shows protests on Sept. 1 in Freeport, Wells, Presque Isle, and Auburn.  Details at https://www.activatemaine.com/calendar.  Click the forward arrow > next to “TODAY” 

    and keep scrolling to get to Sept. 1.  Details on each event are found by clicking on the name of the town: a dropdown box will appear.

    The national fiftyfiftyone organization (https://www.fiftyfifty.one/) shows many events across the country.  So far, their map shows Labor Day events only in Machias and Auburn, and no other towns.  The map says “may day” but the entries on the map are for Sept. 1.  If you have friends living elsewhere, send them a link for an event in their area.  https://www.mobilize.us/mayday/map/.  

    Even though the national AFL-CIO announced in a press release (1) that there would be a week of action, the MAINE AFL-CIO shows no protests on their website.  Instead, the organization seems to be holding at least three normal, annual Labor Day social events.  These are not protests.    But if you have connections with union members, or would like to make those connections, attending in solidarity might be a good idea, especially if you can make a donation to support their work (and pay for your food!). The following website has contact info:

    https://maineaflcio.org/news/mark-your-calendars-labor-day-events-portland-skowhegan-brewer

    Pre-labor day protests in Maine: 

    There ARE regular protest events happening before Labor Day.  In fact, there is something going on somewhere in Maine on every single day between now and Sept. 1.  Attend an event closest to you, if you can.  Bring your summer visitors!   Indivisible’s list is at https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/  Once again, Activate Maine’s list is at https://www.activatemaine.com/calendar  Click the forward arrow to find the town and date that interests you.

    And/or, if possible, gather a few friends, call the local office of Senator King or Senator Collins or Jared Golden, and arrange to pay a visit. Congress is in recess.  Great time to go thank them, or give them a piece of your mind!     

    Extra Credit:
    (1) https://aflcio.org/press/releases/afl-cio-announces-workers-labor-day-workers-deserve-week-action

  • Bold Coast Civic Alliance – Action Items – Thursday, July 31st.

    From our friends at Bold Coast Civic Alliance-

    There are so many, many things for us to speak up about, and I try hard not to share too many in these emails. There’s nothing like the feeling of overwhelm to make a person freeze like a deer in the headlights and instead of acting, do absolutely nothing. Deep breaths, everyone, and then take the next step in our long march. (How’s that for corny? LOL) 

    Action Items to choose from (or do all of them: your choice!) Scroll down to the matching number of your option: 

    1. Stop the mass starvation in Gaza! 
    2. URGENT: Call our Senators to oppose Andrea Lucas’ confirmation as Chair of the EEOC 
    3. Support a resolution for a “No Kings” constitutional amendment 
    4. More to do on Epstein 
    5. Tell the FTC to protect everyone from AI voice deepfakes 
    6. The proposed Kids Online Safety Act could cause more problems than it fixes 
    7. A Maine action, for those who don’t like Chik-fil-A or approve of their politics 

    Contact info: 

    Reminder: When you call vs when you email via our reps’ websites (best way to contact them in writing), don’t forget to begin with: “Hi, my name is [name] and I’m a constituent calling from [zip code]. That is important, because if they don’t know you’re actually a constituent, your opinion will be ignored. 

    Angus King             
    DC: (202) 224-5344
    Augusta: (207) 622-8292 

    Susan Collins         
    DC: (202) 224-2523 
    Augusta: (207) 622-8414
    Bangor: (207) 945-0417

    Chellie Pingree      
    DC: (202) 225-6116
    Portland: (207) 774-5019  
    Waterville: (207) 873-5713  

    Jared Golden         
    DC: (202) 225-6306 
    Bangor: (207) 249-7400
    Caribou: (207) 492-6009 
    Lewiston: (207) 241-6767

    Actions 

    Actions 

    1)      Contact Senator Collins, Congressman Golden, and the White House to oppose the mass starvation of the Palestinians in Gaza: 

         The situation is absolutely dire. Here is what Angus King had to say about this (and yes, you can call him to thank him and encourage him):  

    “I cannot defend the indefensible. Israel’s actions in the conduct of the war in Gaza, especially its failure to address the unimaginable humanitarian crisis now unfolding, is an affront to human decency. What appears to be a deliberately-induced famine among a civilian population—including tens of thousands of starving children—can never be an acceptable military strategy…While clearly justified in responding to the horrific attack by Hamas on innocent Israeli citizens, that tragic event cannot in turn justify the enormous toll on Palestinian civilians caused by Israel’s relentless bombing campaign and its indifference to the current plight of those trapped in what’s left of Gaza…I in no way accept or condone the actions of Hamas, but recent events have placed a moral burden on Israel to ameliorate the current crisis, a burden it has thus far totally failed to meet…For these reasons, I am through supporting the actions of the current Israeli government and will advocate—and vote—for an end to any United States support whatsoever until there is a demonstrable change in the direction of Israeli policy. My litmus test will be simple: no aid of any kind as long as there are starving children in Gaza due to the action or inaction of the Israeli government.” 

    Here’s what we have to ask Collins, Golden, and Trump (www.whitehouse.gov) to do: 

         1. Stop shipments of offensive weapons to IDF units in Gaza and the West Bank.  These units are credibly implicated in the commission of gross violations of human rights.  Enforce the Leahy Laws (22 U.S. Code § 2378d – Limitation on assistance to security forces 

    U.S. Code: “No assistance shall be furnished under this chapter or the Arms Export Control Act [22 U.S.C. 2751 et seq.] to any unit of the security forces of a foreign country if the Secretary of State has credible information that such unit has committed a gross violation of human rights.” 

         2. Stop funding the ad-hoc Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.  Bring back UN and NGO groups with demonstrated expertise in distributing humanitarian aid. (https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-welch-19-senators-call-for-answers-on-gaza-humanitarian-foundation-press-administration-to-cease-funding-ghf

    Personal note for transparency: When I condemn Israel’s actions, I speak as a Jewish person who has lived in Israel and who believes in Israel’s right to exist. But I absolutely condemn the Israeli government’s actions in its obvious attempts to utterly destroy Gaza and the people who live there. If you feel differently, you are free to ignore this Action Item. 

    2)Tell Senators Collins and King to oppose the confirmation of Andrea Lucas as Chair of the EEOC: 

         In addition to its name being pretty clear on what it stands for, the EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) states its “vision” and “mission” right on their website: 

    The EEOC’s Vision is: Fair and inclusive workplaces with equal opportunity for all. 

    The EEOC’s Mission is to: Prevent and remedy unlawful employment discrimination and advance equal opportunity for all. 

    Andrea Lucas, however, is a conservative activist who, as Acting Chair of the EEOC, has been using her position to accomplish the opposite of the EEOC’s stated mission and vision. From 5calls.org: 

         “During her brief tenure as EEOC Acting Chair, Lucas has abused her position to launch unlawful investigations against Trump’s critics and adversaries, shaking down law firms under the guise of “illegal DEI” programs, and thwarting free speech in universities—in some cases, even sending questionnaires to faculty on their personal cell phones asking if they identify as Jewish. She also has announced her intent to prosecute employers for engaging in “anti-American national origin discrimination”—in other words, for hiring workers who were not born in the United States. She has specifically targeted the rights of LGBTQIA+ workers, ending EEOC investigations of LGBTQIA+ workplace discrimination.” 

         It seems very clear to me that she is possibly the wrongest [sic] person for this job, and we should make clear to Susan Collins and Angus King that they should oppose her confirmation. 

    3)      A resolution has been introduced in Congress for a constitutional amendment declaring that no president is above the law. Right now, to build momentum, we need to get as many members of Congress as possible on record in support of this “No Kings” amendment. Public Citizen has a petition/letter that we can sign. Obviously, this will never pass in the current Congress, but the more names on the the petition, the better. Congress must be put on notice that their constituents care. You can sign here: https://act.citizen.org/page/86233/petition/1 

    4)      More to do on Epstein: 
         All seven Democrats on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, along with Chuck Schumer, sent a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi invoking a little-known law called “the rule of five” to force the Trump administration to turn over material related to the Epstein investigation. 
         Contact Senators Collins and King to vocally support this effort. You can read the letter here: https://static01.nyt.com/newsgraphics/documenttools/d1193ded99f0a9a9/ced71823-full.pdf  
        And if you’re interested, the Rule of Five states: “An Executive agency, on request of the Committee on Government Operations of the House of Representatives, or of any seven members thereof, or on request of the Committee on Governmental Affairs of the Senate, or any five members thereof, shall submit any information requested of it relating to any matter within the jurisdiction of the committee.” 
     

    5)      Tell the FTC to protect everyone from AI voice deepfakes: 
         Artificial intelligence “deepfakes” of people’s voices are becoming increasingly easy to create, and it can be done without your consent or even your knowledge. The FTC prohibits impersonating government officials or business officials, but not us ordinary folks, leaving us all ever more vulnerable to being scammed. 

         Consumer Reports is lobbying to change this. You can sign their petition here: https://action.consumerreports.org/nb-20250317-aideepfakepetition 

    6)      Tell Senators Collins and King to oppose S.1748, the “Kids Online Safety Act” (KOSA): 

         KOSA, the “Kids Online Safety Act” doesn’t look like the right answer to a real concern. Its language is too unclear, leaving big loopholes that could allow the Trump administration’s partisan FTC to block any speech it disagrees with. See: https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/05/kids-online-safety-act-will-make-internet-worse-everyone 

    7)      Reported in the Press-Herald:  Maine Turnpike Authority’s new Executive Director, Andre Briere, is considering adding Chick-Fil-A to the service plazas along the Maine Turnpike. Chick-Fil-A is an ardent supporter for “traditional families”, and they are outspoken activists against gay marriage and the entire LGBTQ+ community. They’re also closed on Sundays. Is Chik-Fil-A the way Maine wants to greet its visitors? And shouldn’t Sunday drivers have full options at our service plazas? Does Chik-Fil-A’s stated vision jibe with Maine: The Way Life Should Be? If you want to oppose this, you can call Mr. Briere directly and leave him a voicemail: MTA: (877) 682-9433, ext. 124. 

  • Action 155: Stop the genocide.

    From our friends at Hancock County Democrats:

    Background:  We received a request from a friend to post this action, which we have substantially edited but hopefully not altered in intent.  She writes: “…Today’s request is urgent. … The extent of human suffering in Gaza has finally captured the attention of people and powers worldwide, and here at home. This is a critical moment to add our voices…We might be able to do some good to change policy and bring relief to the starving and suffering people of Gaza. Senator King has stepped up. Sen. Collins and Rep. Golden have been silent.” 

    Senator King’s statement reads in part:

     “I cannot defend the indefensible. Israel’s actions in the conduct of the war in Gaza, especially its failure to address the unimaginable humanitarian crisis now unfolding, is an affront to human decency. What appears to be a deliberately-induced famine among a civilian population—including tens of thousands of starving children—can never be an acceptable military strategy…While clearly justified in responding to the horrific attack by Hamas on innocent Israeli citizens, that tragic event cannot in turn justify the enormous toll on Palestinian civilians caused by Israel’s relentless bombing campaign and its indifference to the current plight of those trapped in what’s left of Gaza…I in no way accept or condone the actions of Hamas, but recent events have placed a moral burden on Israel to ameliorate the current crisis, a burden it has thus far totally failed to meet…For these reasons, I am through supporting the actions of the current Israeli government and will advocate—and vote—for an end to any United States support whatsoever until there is a demonstrable change in the direction of Israeli policy. My litmus test will be simple: no aid of any kind as long as there are starving children in Gaza due to the action or inaction of the Israeli government.” (1)

    The ad-hoc, nonprofit Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (2) is part of the problem.  Established in February of 2025, it is backed by the US and Israeli governments, but criticized by the United Nations and over 170 international charities for its field operations, which have resulted in shocking deaths of starving Palestinians – exactly the opposite of what they were supposed to be doing.  Our friend writes: “They were told their ‘plan’ would result in chaos. They are herding starving people into a few hard-to-reach small areas – where the starving are being shot like fish in a barrel. Since late May, more than 766 Palestinians were killed while heading to sites run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. … Israeli, Trump administration, AIPAC and CUFI assertions that Hamas is blocking distribution have proven to be false. This humanitarian crisis is a compounding of Israel’s years long blockade with months of Israel effectively preventing food and medical supplies into Gaza.”  [AIPAC = American Israel Public Affairs Committee, a lobbying group.  CUFI = Christians United for Israel, the largest Zionist organization in the US.  See Extra Credit.]

    Actions:  Contact Senator Collins and Representative Golden and yes, the White House.  Ask them to:

    1. Stop shipments of offensive weapons to IDF units in Gaza and the West Bank.  These units are credibly implicated in the commission of gross violations of human rights.  Enforce the Leahy Laws (3).  
    2. Stop funding the ad-hoc Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.  Bring back UN and NGO groups with demonstrated expertise in distributing humanitarian aid.

    Urgency:  Every day that goes by means more innocent, starving people being murdered while the US Administration turns a blind eye.

    Contacts: 

    Angus King             
    DC: (202) 224-5344
    Augusta: (207) 622-8292 

    Susan Collins         
    DC: (202) 224-2523 
    Augusta: (207) 622-8414
    Bangor: (207) 945-0417

    Chellie Pingree      
    DC: (202) 225-6116
    Portland: (207) 774-5019  
    Waterville: (207) 873-5713  

    Jared Golden         
    DC: (202) 225-6306 
    Bangor: (207) 249-7400
    Caribou: (207) 492-6009 
    Lewiston: (207) 241-6767

    President Trump: https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/

    Extra Credit:

  • Action 154: Run, Matt, Run!

    Note: The Hancock County Democratic Committee does not formally endorse any particular Democrat in any election where more than one Democrat may be running in competition with each other.  The following Action Item should not be construed as an official endorsement.  It’s the author’s viewpoint.

    Background:  For some time, we have been wishing for a challenger to Jared Golden.  Ranked choice voting in the primary this year has made this an excellent opportunity to vote our preference and still not lose the CD 2 seat to a “Rethuglican” like Paul LePage.  

    What are our problems with Jared Golden?  Some wag characterized him as “Susan Collins in trousers”. That makes sense especially since early in his career he was a member of her staff.  One characteristic they share is that they tend they burnish their “bipartisan” credentials by voting with the opposition party when their vote doesn’t really matter (because the outcome is already “in the bag”).  Here’s a sampling of Golden’s objectionable actions:

    • Voted FOR HR 9495 (Action #4), 
    • Voted FOR the SAVE Act (several times – see Actions #9, 24, 54, 62, 77, 88, 90, 118), 
    • Introduced legislation to impose an across-the-board 10% tariff (Action #13), 
    • Voted FOR the Laken Riley act (Action #15), 
    • REFUSED to attend any Town Halls with his constituents (Action # 32, 55, 70), 
    • Voted FOR the Continuing Resolution in favor of Trump budget cutting (Action # 67, 68) 
    • Voted FOR the crypto-corruption-enabling GENIUS Act (Action # 148). 


    You can read up on all these Actions at https://isledems.org/actionitems

    Re. the SAVE act, Golden even had the temerity to LECTURE a former Secretary of State on how voting works in Maine, and essentially ARGUE that the SAVE act doesn’t say what it actually says.  You will recall that the Secretary of State has the statutory responsibility to oversee voting.  Golden apparently thought he knew the rules, and the effect of the SAVE act, better than a former Secretary of State with a total of 14 years in that position!  

    That former Secretary of State?  Matt Dunlap, who is exploring a run for Golden’s seat.  

    Background on Matt:  The best place to start is the website for the State Auditor, his current job.  https://www.maine.gov/audit/about-auditor.html  Matt is working on the papers he needs to file in order to announce his candidacy formally, expected sometime in September.  A fact about Matt that does not appear on the website:  During the first Trump administration, when Matt was the Secretary of State, he had to SUE to protect Maine voter information which was being sought by Trump’s “fraudulent voting” commission.  See Extra Credit.  He has amply demonstrated that he will stand up for Mainers, no matter how authoritarian the Trump regime becomes.

    Action:  There will be a potluck “meet and greet” in Surry on August 15, starting at 5:30.  Reservations are needed because parking is limited.  This is the first of what will likely be numerous gatherings as those of us who are supporting his candidacy get organized. (Think about holding a gathering in your town!)  If you would like to attend this first one, send an email to oneilldrm@gmail.com to sign up.  Moira will let you know if there is still room, and if so, she will give you the directions to the location.  

    Extra Credit:

    https://www.governing.com/archive/tns-dunlap-maine-trump-commission.htmlandidate of whatever party win the ranked choice primary and go on to win the election in 2026!

    https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/politics/maine-politics/as-maine-secretary-of-state-matthew-dunlaps-tenure-ends-he-reflects-on-the-myth-of-voter-fraud/97-83c77cbb-213e-4243-9768-9c30195cfb5b

    https://americanoversight.org/investigation/dunlap-v-pacei-investigating-voter-fraud-commission/

    https://www.bates.edu/news/2018/03/02/matt-dunlap-dont-call-it-fraud-because-you-disagree-with-it/

    https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-voter-fraud-commission-dunlap-lawsuit

    https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/member-trump-s-voter-fraud-commission-says-lack-evidence-reveals-n897796

    https://www.pressherald.com/2018/07/18/federal-voter-fraud-commission-documents-finally-headed-to-maine-secretary-of-state-dunlap/

    https://www.npr.org/2018/08/04/635668304/member-of-disbanded-trump-voter-fraud-commission-speaks-out

    https://www.mainepublic.org/politics/2017-12-28/maine-election-chief-shines-light-on-voter-fraud-panel-he-was-accused-of-legitimizing