Watch television during any election night news coverage and note that almost as soon as the first visible percentage points of the vote total rolls in, some pundit will opine with authority that the preliminary results are either a humiliating defeat for one side or a sweeping emphatic victory for the other.

I could write a long winded letter about the makeup of the 700 people who voted against Wal-Mart; how the dreaded strip mall from Old Rt. 1 in Damariscotta to Nobleboro came to be; why Hannaford expanded; why Damariscotta Hardware is presently expanding; the addition of Dunkin’ Donuts to the strip along with an office supply store; a dialysis clinic; a new Round Top store; oxygen supply store; Hunts lumber store; DB&T Bank; low income housing, etc…

I suppose living in Nobleboro might not qualify my right to comment; but it seems to me, as a user of US 1, my rights are just as important as the next driver’s.

On principle we oppose papering over problems feigning a metaphorical joining of hands and a forced singing of “Kumbaya,” but if there is ever a time to embrace a “Kumbaya” moment, this is the annual time of year to do it.

On November 20, 2009, Great Salt Bay Community School had its first H1N1 (swine flu) vaccination clinic for children in our school, whose parents had pre-registered. We had approximately 160 students receive the vaccination in two hours. This type of event does not go smoothly without the support of many parents and community members, who gave of their time to our students.

It is almost up to us. Soon enough the issues will be wrested from the lips of the spin doctors, the smooth talking professional lobbyists and the all-too-earnest volunteers and the time will come for each of us to make our own decisions.

The yes on 1 ads seem to be saying that if gay marriage is recognized by the state it will have to be taught in schools. They seem to be trying to scare us that it will create new gay people- mostly young ones- if they are “taught gay marriage” in school.

One of the great things about Maine government is the citizen’s petition, which allows private citizens to bypass the legislature and present a question directly to the voters at large.

I don’t know why the town of Damariscotta is sending out questionnaires and holding meetings to see how the town wants to go in the future. I think they made it abundantly clear when they let themselves be led around like a puppy dog on a leash by two wealthy women from away.

It is correct to view gay marriage in the context of “perpetuation of the species,” but analyses showing that gay marriage will somehow decrease or denigrate our society’s ability to perpetuate itself show little grasp of real social and economic forces and lead to the wrong conclusion.

I find the television ads about curriculum changes that may happen in Maine if the new law allowing same sex marriage is not stopped very scary.

It is the position of this newspaper that the current same sex marriage debate is a divisive battle of semantics.

While we respect leaders, even those we disagree with, we really think the legislature dropped the ball.

Sen. Olympia Snowe is a small, frail looking woman who looks like she never gets enough sleep or enough to eat.

However, Snowe is a leader worthy of the national stage and as her historic vote on the Senate Finance Committee Oct. 13 shows, she is not afraid to take a position when she has to.

There has been so much talk about the swine flu in the media lately. To add to the stress I recently learned that Governor Baldacci has the authority to order that all Mainers be vaccinated.