What the Hell Paul, The Breakdown of Paul LePage

How many times will I have to write an article like this. How often do we find ourselves reviewing our esteemed Governor's most recent outburst and wondering if he has hit the limit of his own capacity for foolishness.

I think I have to accept that these writings are pointless. It would appear there is no end to how ridiculous he can act.

Yesterday news broke of a meeting that took place between the Governor and three members of the Maine house who caucus with neither the Republicans or the Democrats. Holding to Maine's long tradition of supporting Independent candidates these men are a vital part of the center in Maine. The meeting did not go well. If what we are told, and the reports are confirmed by all three members that were in the meeting, Mr. LePage, upon being asked about the increase in property taxes that would be necessary on the local level as a result of his plan to halt municipal revenue sharing, went off. Calling the legislators " idiots" he advised that they were worse than those other guys ( presumably the Democrats). LePage then stormed out of the room. Many of us have been in a meeting or place where someone storms out. One can only imagine how these men felt. The meeting was not over however, LePage stormed back in moments later, swearing, and pounding the table stating that if the legislators could find 200 million he would put back the revenue sharing.

I think these fellows were surprisingly able to keep their composure. LePage from all accounts was acting a bit unbalanced and yet a valid response was given him with one of the gentleman advising that the revenue and more could be found if the Governor's controversial tax cut that he put in place as his first act was reversed. Needless to say our Governor was not interested in that.

Lets look at where we are right now, on the twenty-second of January. We have a gaping hole in our budget. To get through this year, the budget ending June 30, 2013 school districts are now meeting to make mid year cuts to get through the year. With his municipal revenue sharing on the table to be cut, local towns will be forced to raise more money than ever, and homeowners will be losing their homestead exemption. The pressure on school districts is only increasing.

One should keep in mind that the Governor surely has a bug in his bonnet about education. With his constant statements about Superintendent's double dipping, his claims about the paucity of the education received in Maine schools, and his claims that Maine teachers should make much more the Governor is all over the map.

We should also keep in mind that since the election in November when Democrats regained control of the State Senate and House the Governor has not met with the leaders of his opposition. Why? Well it seems that he really does not like having his public appearances taped. The state's Democratic party is taping all of LePage's public moments and speeches. One may not like it, but as the Governor it goes with the job these days.

The fact is our Governor has some personality issues that are making him even less successful than a person of sane behavior with the same Conservative approach would be. One might notice that since his budget proposals there is not a great deal of support coming from the state's Republicans. The fact is no one wants to stick their neck out for Governor Paul LePage.

He is fast moving up the charts as the worst Governor in the country and one thing we can evidently be sure of is this is one category he is going to make sure Maine leads the nation.

It is an embarrassment that even Republicans are starting to tire of. Perhaps the Governor should do what he seems to want to do, take his ball and go home. We would all be better off.