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Category Archives: Commentary

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Our freedom of information

Posted on February 21, 2013 by Matthew Gagnon

By now virtually everyone has not only heard about the Freedom of Access Act (FOAA) request made by The Bangor Daily News seeking to obtain information about holders of concealed weapons permits but has formed an opinion about it. I … Continue reading →

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Posted in Column, Commentary, General, State

The state of our union

Posted on February 14, 2013 by Matthew Gagnon

There was a time when I treated a State of the Union address like a national holiday. I used to gather my friends together, host a watch party, get some pizza and excitedly hang on every word uttered by the … Continue reading →

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

Baldacci redux

Posted on February 7, 2013 by Matthew Gagnon

Remember John Baldacci? I certainly do. This was a unique Maine politician who managed to somehow turn from one of the most popular political figures in the state when he was in the amoral swamp of Washington, D.C., into the … Continue reading →

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Posted in Column, Commentary, Elections, General, State, The Maine View

Give me your tired, your poor … and everyone else

Posted on January 31, 2013 by Matthew Gagnon

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., is stepping out on a very flimsy metaphorical branch, which threatens to snap under his weight. That limb is immigration reform. But I am glad he is stepping on it, and I hope the limb doesn’t break. … Continue reading →

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Posted in Column, Commentary, Federal, General, State

Who will be the real spoiler in the Maine governor’s race?

Posted on January 24, 2013 by Matthew Gagnon

Democratic firm Public Policy Polling came out with a survey this week that showed Gov. Paul LePage winning a three-way match-up against independent Eliot Cutler and every Democrat tested. The same survey showed that when running alone against just a Democrat, LePage … Continue reading →

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Posted in Column, Commentary, Elections, State, The Maine View

Tackling gun laws? Amend Constitution or obey it

Posted on January 17, 2013 by Matthew Gagnon

I suppose we are finally having that long-overdue “conversation” about guns, aren’t we? Sadly it isn’t a particularly productive one. Neither left nor right is talking any real sense here. Banning assault weapons is little more than a marketing ploy, … Continue reading →

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Posted in Column, Commentary, Federal, General, State

Maine’s taxing tax problem

Posted on January 10, 2013 by Matthew Gagnon

I received my first paycheck of the new year this week. Did you? Notice anything? My wife certainly did. Roughly $100 that had previously been in my paycheck was now missing. That money was probably going to buy groceries but … Continue reading →

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Posted in Column, Commentary, Elections, Federal, General, Headlines, State, The Maine View

Cliff notes: The ugly but necessary path to governing

Posted on January 3, 2013 by Matthew Gagnon

Let’s get the obvious out of the way first: The “deal” to avert the so-called fiscal cliff is an embarrassingly bad piece of legislation. Historically awful, really. Just horrendous. But I would have voted for it. Governing is not about … Continue reading →

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

13 bold predictions for 2013

Posted on December 27, 2012 by Matthew Gagnon

Last December, I took a look at what was then the future and made a series of predictions about the next 12 months. I have to say I didn’t do half bad. Things I got right: President Barack Obama defeating … Continue reading →

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Posted in Column, Commentary, Elections, Federal, General, Headlines, Media Appearances, State, The Maine View

The pendulum swings for the powerful

Posted on December 20, 2012 by Matthew Gagnon

For the past month I’ve been telling you what is wrong with my party, what Republicans can do to fix it and what I think we can all expect from the future of the GOP. But if I could distill … Continue reading →

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Posted in Column, Commentary, Elections, Federal, General, Headlines, Media Appearances, State, The Maine View

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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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