Reflecting on midterms

As a lifetime Republican, I want to offer some post-election opinions and observations. The red wave did not occur; good. Most of the MAGA candidates did not win; better. Choosing Republican leadership in both houses is becoming messy; even better. There is turmoil within the Republican Party; outstanding. Now let’s blow the whole thing up and start over.

This is not the Republican Party I grew up with. The current self-anointed leader of the party is nothing more than a carnival barker who fancies himself as the messiah of the party and of the nation. It is becoming increasingly likely I will not vote for either major party candidate in three consecutive elections and that saddens me as I have voted in every one since 1976. My candidate didn’t always prevail, but I at least felt comfortable in voting for him.

I would even consider crossing party lines to vote for a candidate that both promised and fulfilled a moderate stance. Sadly, the promise part is easy but not so much the fulfilling part. Many candidates from both parties are inspirational during campaigns but once elected are hamstrung and highjacked by the extremists within their respective parties.

I long for the days when the Republican Party actually stood for something and pray they return to their roots and work toward the goals I wish for today — smaller government, strong defense, lowering national debt, supporting individual freedoms and promoting accountability among us all. But alas, the citizens of this country are saddled with ancient warriors hell-bent on conducting war with the opposing party with little attention to the needs of this country. The words compromise and negotiate seem to have parted ways with Washington.

At least the Democratic Party have remained true to their goal of growing government with an eye on a complete Socialist society.

I will conclude this letter by quoting a line from the 1976 movie, “Network.” Come on and say it with me: “I’m as mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore.”

Steve Edmondson,
Topsham

Hunting for responsibility

I don’t need to be told when deer hunting season begins. I can tell because beer cans and trash start appearing on the road. This year, we got a bonus. A deer carcass was dumped in the field at the end of the road.

One year someone left a moose carcass complete with gut bag on the trail to the lighthouse. At a time when posted signs are proliferating, hunters should be aware that those of us who allow hunting on our properties might not do so in the future if trash of all sorts is dumped near us.

Bart Chapin,
Arrowsic