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The second district scramble

Posted on May 23, 2013 by Matthew Gagnon

U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud, D-2nd District, continues to inch closer and closer to running for governor.  Whether or not he actually does it is anyone’s guess, but the Democrats seem to increasingly think he is going to do it. And … Continue reading →

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Posted in Column

The MaineCare black hole

Posted on May 16, 2013 by Matthew Gagnon

Here is a fact that is simply inarguable: Maine hospitals are owed $450 million. Here is another fact that is inarguable: That debt was caused by an expansion of MaineCare, which is Maine’s version of Medicaid, without accompanying state resources … Continue reading →

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Posted in Column, Commentary, Federal, General, State

Unleash educational experimentation

Posted on May 9, 2013 by Matthew Gagnon

Over the past decade, there has been an interesting convergence between left and right on one issue: education. That is not to say that Republicans and Democrats do not still hold divergent views on how to fix America’s broken education … Continue reading →

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Posted in Column, Commentary, General, State

Grading the grades

Posted on May 2, 2013 by Matthew Gagnon

Liberal antagonists to Gov. Paul LePage and his policies have been having a field day attacking the recently announced letter grading system for Maine schools. A recent Bangor Daily News editorial labeled the system “uncompassionate” as well as “unreliable.” This … Continue reading →

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Posted in Column

Guard The Rights Of Your Enemy

Posted on April 25, 2013 by Matthew Gagnon

Three weeks ago, I wrote a column on these pages calling on conservatives to do more than simply talk about how much they revere the Constitution, but to justify and reinforce that reverence with serious, intellectual, logical arguments. “What conservatives … Continue reading →

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Posted in Commentary

It isn’t the gun lobby

Posted on April 18, 2013 by Matthew Gagnon

In the wake of the failure of the self-styled “bipartisan” gun control legislation in the U.S. Senate, many supporters of the bill sponsored by Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Penn., and Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.V., are coming unhinged. President Barack Obama accused … Continue reading →

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Posted in Column, Commentary, Federal, General, State

The 2014 gubernatorial race has begun

Posted on April 11, 2013 by Matthew Gagnon

One of the most common complaints about U.S. presidential elections is that with every cycle the madness begins earlier. Each time, candidates announce sooner, run never-ending, perpetual campaigns, and the American people don’t get much of a break. In Maine, … Continue reading →

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Posted in Column, Commentary, Elections, General, State

How to really defend the Constitution

Posted on April 4, 2013 by Matthew Gagnon

Stop by any gathering of more than two or three Republicans, and you’ll hear something repeated ad nauseum: “The only way we are ever going to get this country back on track is if we follow the Constitution.” Such a … Continue reading →

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Posted in Column, Commentary, Federal, General, State

No excuses for the GOP

Posted on March 21, 2013 by Matthew Gagnon

To quote Julius Caesar: “The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves, that we are underlings.” The Republican Party currently finds itself underlings. It is in a very difficult place. It faces some monumental challenges, and … Continue reading →

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Posted in Column, Commentary, Elections, Federal, General, State

The Mike Michaud calculus

Posted on March 14, 2013 by Matthew Gagnon

Just how serious is U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud, D-2nd District, about running for governor? It’s an open question that only he really knows the answer to. A number of times in the past, he has openly (but always gently) flirted … Continue reading →

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Posted in Column, Commentary, Elections, Federal, General, State

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About the Author

Matthew Gagnon, a Hampden native, is a Republican political strategist. He previously worked for Sen. Susan Collins and the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

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Recent Posts

  • The second district scramble
  • The MaineCare black hole
  • Unleash educational experimentation
  • Grading the grades
  • Guard The Rights Of Your Enemy

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