Articles – 2012
U.S. Senate transitions: an incoming independent voice hopes to bridge the divide; interview with senator-elect Angus King; Maine Sunday Telegram, FRONT PAGE, 30 December 2012, BRUNSWICK, MAINE, p. A1
King names Rand as chief of staff; Sen-elect King’s choice of aides; Portland Press Herald, STATE & LOCAL; 18 December 2012, BRUNSWICK, MAINE, p. B3
Republicans have a Yankee Problem; By embracing Southern-style conservatism, the party is all but extinct in the region of its birth; Maine Sunday Telegram; INSIGHT, 16 December 2012, PORTLAND, MAINE, p. E1
War for Maine’s Shore; Recent court decisions open new fronts in the battle over ownership and use of the state’s intertidal zone; Maine Sunday Telegram, FRONT PAGE, 2 December 2012, KENNEBUNKPORT, MAINE, p. A1
Snowe’s political donations, calls for unity at odds; Sen. Snowe gave only to Republicans in Maine, including many polarizing ones; Portland Press Herald, FRONT PAGE; 27 November 2012, PORTLAND, MAINE, p. A1
How the Republican Party lost the State House; ANALYSIS: Effective spending by Maine Democrats and regional dissatisfaction with Gov. Paul LePage contributed to a reversal of control in both chambers; Maine Sunday Telegram, FRONT PAGE, 25 November 2012, PORTLAND, MAINE, p. A1
Broken dreams of world government; a review of Mark Mazower’s Governing the World: A History of An Idea; Washington Post; OUTLOOK; 18 November 2012.
Acclaimed journalist to speak on elections, presidents at USM; interview with Bob Woodward; Portland Press Herald, STATE & LOCAL; 14 November 2012, PORTLAND, MAINE, p. B1
11 Nations, Divisible; the 2012 election as seen through the true regional map; Minneapolis Star-Tribune, COMMENTARY, 12 November 2012
U.S Regional clashes behind Obama versus Romney; the 2012 election as seen through the true regional map; Bloomberg View, OPED, 11 November 2012
Outside funds flooded state in negativity; a look at the record-breaking independent expenditures into Maine’s legislative races; Maine Sunday Telegram, FRONT PAGE, 11 November 2012, PORTLAND, MAINE, p. A1
Regional divisions date back centuries; an analysis of the 2012 U.S. Presidential election; Maine Sunday Telegram, FRONT PAGE, 11 November 2012, FREEPORT, MAINE, p. A1
The G.O.P’s Yankee Problem; why the Republicans lost big in Greater New England; Washington Monthly, TEN MILES SQUARE, 9 November 2012
The County, state, and nations mourn the loss of Gov. John Reed; obituary profile of a former governor of Maine and Ambassador to Sri Lanka; Portland Press Herald, FRONT PAGE; 3 November 2012, PORTLAND, MAINE, p. A1
Two virtual schools reapply to charter commission; K12 Inc and Connections Learning would manage Maine schools; Portland Press Herald, STATE & LOCAL; 1 November 2012, PORTLAND, MAINE, p. B1
Romney, Dixie, and the Future of the Electoral College; regionalism, Federalism, and the 2012 election; Washington Monthly, TEN MILES SQUARE, 31 October 2012
Who is the Future U.S. Senator from Maine?; examining the contenders for Olympia Snowe’s seat; Washington Monthly, TEN MILES SQUARE, 29 October 2012
U.S. Senate Race: Summers’ previous losses don’t stop quest for Congress; biographical profile of Charlie Summers Jr.; Maine Sunday Telegram, FRONT PAGE, 28 October 2012, SCARBOROUGH, MAINE, p. A1
Ruling finds basis for fraud against McKernan-led firm; A judge recommends retaining four of six charges against the former Maine governor’s for-profit education business, EDMC; Portland Press Herald, STATE & LOCAL; 25 October 2012, PORTLAND, MAINE, p. B2
Name Game: Anti-gay marriage funding group under fire; once again, same-sex marriage supporters try to pry loose the names of donors to the anti-marriage effort in Maine, Maine Sunday Telegram, POLITICS 2012, 21 October 2012, PORTLAND, MAINE, p. A15
Environmental group sues Maine over future of St. Croix alewives; update in saga regarding restoration of a fish to a river on the Maine-New Brunswick border; Portland Press Herald, STATE & LOCAL; 15 October 2012, PORTLAND, MAINE, p. B1
U.S. Senate Race: Democrat Dill stands her ground, then and now; biographical profile of Cynthia Dill; Maine Sunday Telegram, FRONT PAGE, 14 October 2012, CAPE ELIZABETH, MAINE, p. A1
Dill not leaving Senate race, but hints at “last minute deal”; US Senate candidate Cynthia Dill on not being a spoiler; PressHerald.com, OPEN SEASON, 12 October 2012
Virtual school company K12 reinvests in Maine politics; campaign donations by K12 Inc.; PressHerald.com, OPEN SEASON, 9 October 2012
Parallels striking in Maine’s 2nd District Congressional race; biographical profiles of Michael Michaud and Kevin Raye; Maine Sunday Telegram, FRONT PAGE, 7 October 2012, p. A1, BANGOR AND EASTPORT, MAINE, p. A1
The Making of a Man Without a Party; biographical profile of former Maine governor and current US Senate candidate Angus King; Maine Sunday Telegram, FRONT PAGE, 23 September 2012, ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA, p. A1
The Party is Over; review of Mark Lofgren’s ‘The Party is Over’; Washington Post; OUTLOOK; 15 September 2012.
Maine tidal turbine goes online; first in North America; ORPC’s turbine starts commercial power production; Portland Press Herald, STATE & LOCAL; 13 September 2012, PORTLAND, MAINE, p. B1
Firm seeking to open virtual school in Maine is under investigation in Florida; Florida is probing whether K-12 Inc., which wants to run a school for Maine, employed uncertified teachers and tried to conceal it; Portland Press Herald, FRONT
PAGE; 12 September 2012, PORTLAND, MAINE, p. A1
Special Report: The profit motive behind virtual schools in Maine; Documents expose the flow of money and influence from corporations that stand to profit from state leaders’ efforts to expand and deregulate digital education; Maine Sunday Telegram, FRONT PAGE,SPECIAL REPORT 2 September 2012, p. A1
Special Report: Studies: Existing full-time virtual schools earn poor grades; companion piece to digital education policy investigation; Maine Sunday Telegram, SPECIAL REPORT 2 September 2012, p. A5
Marc Thiessen stretches to claim “Maine is not lost” to GOP Senate hopeful; Washington Monthly, TEN MILES SQUARE, 21 August 2012
Campobello’s sea change; FDR Campobello International Park, created by JFK and Muskie, overcomes post-9/11 challenges; Maine Sunday Telegram, INSIGHT, 19 August 2012, CAMPOBELLO ISLAND, NEW BRUNSWICK, CANADA, p. D1
Susan Collins marries friend, mentor; US Senator from Maine weds Tom Daffron; Washington Monthly, TEN MILES SQUARE, 13 August 2012
LePage spurns EPA, but supports greater access for alewives in St. Croix; Portland Press Herald, FRONT PAGE; 8 August 2012, PORTLAND, MAINE, p. A1
Cheap Maine lobsters spark protests in Canada; New Brunswick lobstermen blockade processors, Maine trucker; Portland Press Herald, FRONT PAGE; 3 August 2012, PORTLAND, MAINE, p. A1
Collins, fiance “bring out the best in each other”; profile of Sen. Susan Collins’ mentor and fiance, Tom Daffron; Maine Sunday Telegram, FRONT PAGE, 29 July 2012, p. A1
Election 2012: King catches the money wave; update on money race to replace Olympia Snowe in the U.S. Senate; Maine Sunday Telegram, ELECTION 2012, 29 July 2012, p. B1
Maine company leading the way as tidal energy comes of age; tidal power in the Bay of Fundy region; Maine Sunday Telegram, FRONT PAGE, 22 July 2012, EASTPORT, MAINE, p. A1
Ayuh, ye mateys!; Did the pirates of the Caribbean build a lair in Down East Maine?; Maine Sunday Telegram, INSIGHT, 22 July 2012, MACHIAS, MAINE, p. D1
Tempting but insane; should the South be its own country?; a review of Chuck Thompson’s “Better of Without ‘Em”; Washington Monthly, BOOKS, July/August 2012
What makes Paul LePage tick so strangely?; some background on Maine’s erratic governor; Washington Monthly, TEN MILES SQUARE, 12 July 2012.
EPA orders state: Open St. Croix to alewives; Portland Press Herald, FRONT PAGE; 11 July 2012, PORTLAND, MAINE, p. A1
The alewives argument; the bitter fight over the future of alewives in the St. Croix river on the Maine-New Brunswick border; Maine Sunday Telegram, FRONT PAGE, 8 July 2012, MILLTOWN, NEW BRUNSWICK, CANADA, p. A1
On the rise of the (Deep) Southern Oligarchy; comment on a popular blog post on American regionalism; Washington Monthly, TEN MILES SQUARE, 5 July 2012.
A Crossing to Bear: border, US tax challenges to life on Canada’s Campobello Island; Maine Sunday Telegram, FRONT PAGE, 1 July 2012, CAMPOBELLO ISLAND, NEW BRUNSWICK, CANADA, p. A1
Running for President on a Divided Continent; the 11 nations of North America and their impact on the 2012 race; Chronicle of Higher Education, CHRONICLE REVIEW, 25 June 2012 PORTLAND, MAINE
The Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America; sidebar to story above; Chronicle of Higher Education, CHRONICLE REVIEW, 25 June 2012 PORTLAND, MAINE
The War that Made Maine a State; the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812; Maine Sunday Telegram, INSIGHT, 24 June 2012, EASTPORT, MAINE, p. E1
Snowe, Collins reject bid to kill toxic air rules; New England senators unanimously reject Sen. Inhofe’s measure; Portland Press Herald, FRONT PAGE; 21 June 2012, PORTLAND, MAINE, p. A1
In New England, the fishing still stinks; why the region is the sore spot on NOAA’s otherwise positive record in fisheries; Portland Press Herald, FRONT PAGE; 16 June 2012, PORTLAND, MAINE, p. A1
The Money Race to Replace Olympia Snowe: an update; Washington Monthly, TEN MILES SQUARE, 10 June 2012.
More PAC money floods Saco area senate race; unusually high independent expenditures in a Maine state senate race; PressHerald.com, OPEN SEASON, 9 June 2012
Money separates U.S. Senate candidates; on eve of primaries, a look at the money race for Snowe’s seat; Maine Sunday Telegram, FRONT PAGE, 6 June 2012, PORTLAND, MAINE, p. A1
Racino developer pours over $13,000 into legislative races; Ocean Properties PAC money backs pro-casino candidates, threatens clean election candidates; Portland Press Herald, FRONT PAGE; 6 June 2012, PORTLAND, MAINE, p. A1
The ocean of life; a review of Callum Roberts’ The Ocean of Life’; Christian Science Monitor; BOOKS; 5 June 2012
Forest for the Trees; a review of Eric Rutkow’s ‘American Canopy’; Washington Post; OUTLOOK; 1 June 2012.
PACs give Michaud advantage in funds; a look at the money race in Maine’s 2nd Congressional District contest; Maine Sunday Telegram, FRONT PAGE, 3 June 2012, PORTLAND, MAINE, p. A1
East-West highway link not yet on Quebec’s agenda; Portland Press Herald, NEWS; 31 May 2012, PORTLAND, MAINE, p. A8
Some prominent names among those who gave to candidates; Maine donors to US Senate and House races;Portland Press Herald, STATE & LOCAL; 1 June 2012, PORTLAND, MAINE, p. C5
Collins takes a call, panel takes 2 votes; Sen. Collins absence allowed committee passage of ban on Pentagon biofuels program; Portland Press Herald, STATE & LOCAL; 31 May 2012, PORTLAND, MAINE, p. C1
East-West Highway: answer or albatross?; Environmental impacts aside, assessing the economic feasibility of the $2 billion toll-road project will depend on what consultants use as frame of reference; Maine Sunday Telegram, FRONT
PAGE, 27 May 2012, PORTLAND, MAINE, p. A1
King gift to Obama draws fire from rivals; The independent donated to Democrats before he became a candidate for the U.S. Senate; Portland Press Herald, STATE & LOCAL; 24 May 2012, PORTLAND, MAINE, p. C1
On Obama’s Greater Appalachian Problem; Obama, Romney both have trouble in Greater Appalachia;Washington Monthly, TEN MILES SQUARE, 23 May 2012.
Maine AG stays out of campaign-finance case He won’t join with 22 states seeking to limit the impact of the Citizens United court decision in a Montana case; Portland Press Herald, STATE & LOCAL; 22 May 2012, PORTLAND, MAINE, p. B1
Following the Money in the Race to Replace Olympia Snowe: an Early Snapshot; Washington Monthly, TEN MILES SQUARE, 22 May 2012.
Malaga Island: A century of shame; A new exhibit at the Maine State Museum tells the story of the eviction of Malaga Island’s residents, one of the state’s most disgraceful official acts; Maine Sunday Telegram, INSIGHT, 13 May 2012,
AUGUSTA, MAINE, p. E1
Campaign backers spending in Maine; Financial disclosures by the 12 candidates for an open U.S. Senate seat let voters follow the money; Maine Sunday Telegram, FRONT PAGE, 13 May 2012, PORTLAND, MAINE, p. A1
Loophole in clean elections law allows private funds; revisiting the perennial issue of clean candidates with PACs in Maine; Maine Sunday Telegram, FRONT PAGE, 13 May 2012, PORTLAND, MAINE, p. A1
National GOP may bar Maine’s Republican delegates; GOP convention problems raise questions, Portland Press Herald, FRONT PAGE, 8 May 2012, PORTLAND, MAINE, p. A1.
Chaos at the Caucuses; Maine’s 2012 GOP presidential caucus was a mess; Down East, TALK OF MAINE, May 2012, PORTLAND, MAINE
The answers to life’s big questions; review of Edward O. Wilson’s “The Social Conquest of Earth”; Washington Post; OUTLOOK; 15 April 2012, p. B1.
Net Loss; Are the Gulf of Maine’s cod — and cod fishermen — really doomed?; Down East, TALK OF MAINE, April 2012, PORTLAND, MAINE
Lessig: Occupy Americans Elect, reformist’s call to action on money in politics; Washington Monthly, TEN MILES SQUARE, 14 March 2012.
Super Tuesday and the American Nations, regional geography explains much of the result on the GOP presidential primary; Washington Monthly, TEN MILES SQUARE, 8 March 2012.
Black and White and Red All Over, can new investors rescue Maine’s largest newspaper chain?; Down East, TALK OF MAINE, March 2012, PORTLAND, MAINE
Olympia Snowe: why she’s leaving the Senate; the effect on Maine, US political landscape; The Daily Beast, ELECTION 2012, 29 February 2012, PORTLAND, MAINE
Despite Walmart and Starbucks, divided we stand; American regionalism’s effect on history and current politics; Maine Sunday Telegram; INSIGHT, 19 February 2012, PORTLAND, MAINE
To understand America, look to New Zealand; review of David Hackett Fischer’s “Fairness and Freedom”; Washington Post, BOOK WORLD, 19 February 2012
Mitt Romney edges out Ron Paul in Maine caucus; The Daily Beast, ELECTION 2012, 11 February 2012, PORTLAND, MAINE
One nation, divided by regions; American regionalism’s effect on history and current politics; Louisville Courier Journal, OP-ED, 11 February 2012, PORTLAND, MAINE
Woodard: Not just North vs South; American regionalism’s effect on history and current politics; Savannah Morning News, OP-ED, 10 February 2012, PORTLAND, MAINE
Regionalism: united we stand?; American regionalism’s effect on history and current politics; The Oregonian, OP-ED, 10 February 2012, PORTLAND, MAINE
Regionalism: united we stand?; American regionalism’s effect on history and current politics; Sacramento Bee, OP-ED, 9 February 2012, PORTLAND, MAINE
America: united we stand?; American regionalism’s effect on history and current politics; San Jose Mercury News, OP-ED, 9 February 2012, PORTLAND, MAINE
America: united we stand?; American regionalism’s effect on history and current politics; Contra Costa Times (California), OP-ED, 9 February 2012, PORTLAND, MAINE
Regionalism: united we stand?; American regionalism’s effect on history and current politics; Bellingham Herald (Washington), OP-ED, 9 February 2012, PORTLAND, MAINE
Regionalism: united we stand?; American regionalism’s effect on history and current politics; Bradenton Herald (Florida), OP-ED, 9 February 2012, PORTLAND, MAINE
Not one America, many; American regionalism’s effect on history and current politics; Free Lance-Star (Fredericksburg, Va.), OP-ED, 5 February 2012, PORTLAND, MAINE
Why did Norm Olsen lose the DMR post? Update on a fiery resignation in Maine; Working Waterfront, PARALLEL 44, February 2012, PORTLAND, MAINE
The Making of Paul LePage, Part II: The Rise to Power; Portland Phoenix, FEATURE, 18 January 2012, WATERVILLE, MAINE
The Making of Paul LePage, Part I: Escaping Poverty or The Horatio Alger Years; Portland Phoenix, COVER STORY, 11 January 2012, LEWISTON, MAINE