Slow Saturday Special: Maine Scallop Catch Cut

I'm going to cut a lot more loose here. Enjoy!

"Maine wants to cut scallop fishing days, areas" by Patrick Whittle | Associated Press   August 16, 2014

PORTLAND, Maine — Maine regulators want to shut down several waterways to scallop fishing in the upcoming season as they continue attempts to rebuild the fishery.

The news comes as Maine’s Department of Marine Resources is warning fishermen that the coming season will probably include emergency closures depending on the amount of scallops harvested. The season runs from December to April....

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It's the prolifically-breeding Poliquins that are causing the shortage:

"Bruce Poliquin tries to shake Tea Party label; Candidate for House seat aims to broaden appeal after 2012 loss" by Alanna Durkin | Associated Press   August 18, 2014

AUGUSTA, Maine — Two years ago, Bruce Poliquin kicked off his US Senate campaign at a Tea Party event and courted voters within the ultraconservative movement. But Poliquin, who now hopes to become the first Republican to fill the congressional seat in Maine’s sprawling Second district in nearly two decades, rejects being labeled as a Tea Party candidate.  

It's become like the word liberal.

The former state treasurer, who faces state Senator Emily Cain in November, has received support from a national group and lawmaker aligned with the limited-government Tea Party movement, which Democrats are highlighting as they attempt to paint his views as extreme.

But Poliquin says he does not believe in being defined by any label, has never been a member of the Tea Party, and is not being endorsed by any local groups. Furthermore, his message and record appeal to all Mainers who are concerned about things like high taxes, soaring energy costs, and burdensome business regulations, he said.

‘‘I have support from across the political spectrum, and I am very proud of it,’’ he said. ‘‘A lot of liberal Democrats like to attach a label to you and attack you that way, and I just reject that.’’

Poliquin was among other candidates in the 2012 GOP primary for Maine’s open US Senate seat who were competing for those conservative voters. He officially launched his campaign at a Tea Party event and highlighted his support from what his campaign called ‘‘one of the founders of Maine’s Tea Party movement.’’

That same year, he touted his endorsement from Utah GOP Senator Mike Lee, who gave the Tea Party response to President Obama’s most recent State of the Union speech and said Poliquin would fight alongside himself and other senators with Tea Party credentials.

Poliquin lost in the primary, and the seat was filled by independent Angus King.

With his eye on the House seat in Maine’s vast rural district this year, Poliquin positioned himself as more conservative than his primary opponent, Kevin Raye, a former aide to retired moderate Senator Olympia Snowe.

He framed Raye as a liberal career politician and highlighted his opponents’ refusal to sign a no-tax pledge. Poliquin also trumpeted his endorsement by FreedomWorks, a Washington-based conservative grass-roots organization that is widely considered to be aligned with the Tea Party movement.

Democrats proclaimed Poliquin’s victory in June a ‘‘Tea Party upset,’’ saying his ‘‘dangerous views are part of the wave of Tea Party candidates now becoming the establishment messengers for the Republican Party.’’

Ron Schmidt, political science professor at the University of Southern Maine, said that while Poliquin may not consider himself part of the Tea Party, ‘‘he is a reflection of the turn to the right that successful primary candidates have taken throughout the country.’’

But the label can carry negative connotations and unfairly portray a candidate as radical, said Cynthia Rosen, who was among the leaders of the Tea Party movement in Maine at its height in 2010. She said she doesn’t consider herself in the Tea Party anymore because she believes the movement has been absorbed by the establishment Republican Party.

‘‘It was very easy to be pigeonholed and there was a lot of misrepresentation regarding the Tea Party as being classified as some sort of radical, extremist-type folks,’’ she said.

And it turns out that Poliquin is not alone in wrestling with the Tea Party label.

Matt Bevin, who lost to Kentucky Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell in the Republican primary despite the backing of Tea Party groups there, stressed in an appearance on MSNBC that he has never been a member of the Tea Party but appreciated its support. 

So WHEN DOES TEA PARTY become TERRORIST? 

Related: Sasse Nebraska Tea Party 

Last taste they had of it.

Lerner's Love Letters

Imagine if they hated you. I would check with the IRS but there is no one there to take a phone call.

Notice how all the alphabet scandals that are impeachable have just vanished from corporate coverage?

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Related: Maine Spitzing Tipping Point 

I've reached mine. Sorry.

Advocates bash plan by Maine’s governor to require jobs for food stamps
Maine GOP comes under fire for campaign mailer
King to endorse Cutler for governor, source says

I'm sure they will find a way to put out LePage's fire with some sort of rigged rip-off.

"Maine teacher charged with assaulting girlfriend

A high school music teacher charged with threatening to kill his girlfriend and choking her until she passed out has been freed on $10,000 bail. Andrew Maderios of Pittsfield made his initial court appearance this week to face eight charges, including three felony counts of aggravated assault. He did not enter a plea. Prosecutors said that given the seriousness of the case, they asked for $25,000 bail. Maderios, 28, has been placed on leave from his job at Nokomis Regional High School in Newport. Prosecutors said the alleged victim recorded two of the incidents on her cellphone. As a condition of bail, Maderios was ordered to stay away from her."

That's not the way to serenade her, jerk.

"Maine nurse who failed to report child abuse loses license

A Maine nurse who failed to report signs of abuse of an infant who later died has lost her license. Former home health nurse Virginia McNamara signed a voluntary agreement with the state Board of Nursing, and the agreement was made final this week. The document refers to the case of 10-week-old Ethan Henderson, who died in May 2012 as a result of abuse he suffered at the hands of his father, Gordon Collins-Faunce. McNamara was accused of failing to report a broken arm and bruises to the Maine Department of Health and Human Services. Collins-Faunce pleaded guilty to manslaughter and is serving a 20-year prison sentence."

Related: DCF Delaying Records Releases

Also see: 3 indicted in case of missing Massachusetts boy

"Maine landlord dies after breaking up fight

A 60-year-old Lewiston, Maine, man died after trying to break up a fight in his building, police said. The Sun Journal reported that Louis St. Pierre died at a hospital following the apartment house fight Wednesday night. Police are investigating the death. Police said there was an altercation in the building during which St. Pierre collapsed. Police said they are aware that St. Pierre had a history of heart problems, but they are still awaiting the results of an autopsy. They say the fight appeared to have begun in a hallway and moved out into the driveway of the building, where St. Pierre also lived."

Time to get back out to sea:

"US officials may ban removal of dogfish fins at sea

Federal regulators are considering changing interstate fishery laws to prevent fishermen from removing fins from spiny dogfish before they are brought ashore. The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission is proposing an amendment to require that the fins remain naturally attached to the dogfish until landing. The commission said the change would ensure consistency with 2010’s Shark Conservation Act. A current interstate agreement allows removal of the fins at sea as long as the dogfish’s carcass is retained. The Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries will hold two public hearings on the proposed changes. The commission’s Spiny Dogfish Board will consider approving the amendment in October." 

Time to cast this post loose.

Man suffers minor injuries in moose crash in northern Maine
Tallest N.E. lighthouse, on Maine island, draws $78k bid
FAA investigates Maine biplane crash
Ex-paratrooper jumps with Maine governor’s wife
Speed limits to rise in Maine
Federal officials fine Maine map maker $6.2m
Maine-based mapping company will appeal $6.2m fine
Maine apple growers expect good season
Maine town renames street, drawing criticism from Native Americans
Maine man finds remains of another family in his family’s plot

Arlington National?

NEXT DAY UPDATES:

"Seven arrested after drug bust

Seven people were arrested Thursday after authorities seized evidence of heroin and crack cocaine dealing from an apartment house that they saw has been the scene of three heroin overdoses this summer, officials said. The Sun Journal reported that the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency and local police have been watching the building for several months. Authorities said they found 33 units of heroin and 21 bags of crack cocaine intended for distribution, along with about $2,000 in cash. Police said six people from Lewiston, one from Auburn, and one from New York City were arrested (AP)."

Also see: Maine shorebird study uses new trackers