There is an old saying that goes something like, “As Maine goes, so goes the nation.” In truth, the old saying is probably something more like, “As (proudly insert home state here) goes, so goes the nation,” but we here in Maine can rightly feel that ours is a unique window on national leadership.
If we take Iraq, Katrina, the federal deficit, and the Patriot Act and compare them to school consolidation, jail consolidation, Dirigo, and last year’s 11th-hour tax increases, it might be possible to make the case that George W. Bush and John E. Baldacci are the same person.
At the very least, it seems both men went to same school of public administration.
Both are fond of forming commissions whose panels are either stacked in their favor, or whose recommendations they routinely ignore, and both are also fond of paying lip service to phrases that resonate with the electorate if nothing else: Phrases like “freedom” and “strong economy” (Bush), and “lower taxes” and “jobs” (Baldacci).
The similarities of our chief executives come to mind this week as we cast a longing eye south where the next President takes the oath of office Jan. 20.
The inauguration of a new chief executive is always a good time for a fresh start; a time to take a deep breath before diving back into the muck and mire of partisan politics.
It is also prime time to say “goodbye” to a chief executive who has, usually, overstayed his welcome.
Only time will tell if President Obama’s accomplishments match his soaring rhetoric, but matching his campaign promises to the menu of real world challenges he is about to inherit indicates a tall order ahead at the very least.
Unfortunately, we here in Maine have two more years to wait before we can usher our mini Bush off stage to make way for his yet unknown successor.
It remains to be seen how our fortunes can improve with a fresh start, but it is hard to believe we could do worse.
