Ditched
Just wanted to thank you for your cover story in last week’s Portland Phoenix on senators Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe’s endorsing of Samuel Alito, despite their long claims to uphold women’s rights (See “Ditched,” by Sara Donnelly, March 3). I know many of my friends and I were similarly disgraced at their blind support of Mr. Alito despite his clear anti-abortion stance. In my opinion, our two senators have lost all credibility by voting to confirm Alito. They can no longer make any claims to support a woman’s right to choose and hope to be taken seriously.
I for one, look forward to November when Olympia Snowe’s seat will be up for grabs. Again, thank you for having the guts to call a spade a spade as they say. It’s stories like this one that place the Portland Phoenix miles ahead of the Portland Press Herald (a paper that, incidentally, also endorsed Alito in its op-ed pages alongside their Cal Thomas and Kathleen Parker editorials). Please keep up the good work.
Adam Marletta
Kennebunk
Sara Donnelly's article in the Phoenix (see"Ditched," March 3) was thoughtful, reflective, energetic, accurate, and full of journalistic integrity. What a joy to read an essay that captures the feelings of so many of us who admire(d) Olympia Snowe.
I have ALWAYS voted for her, but alas, those supportive energies have now faded tremendously. Unfettered civil rights can never be trampled upon for political gain, regardless of the perceived level of citizen support a politician may have as s/he postures politically for the cultural camera.
Thanks for shedding light on the feelings so many of your readers have about the “senior” senator from Maine!
Rich West, Ph.D.
Cape Elizabeth
You promised
I’m dismayed and disappointed by what I read in the Phoenix about the missing $500,000 Portland should have received from Governor Baldacci to jump start the “Creative Economy.” (See "You Promised," February 3, by Sara Donnelly.) Also, I don’t understand why Portland city councilors are seemingly silent on this “Arts Incubator” fund. Are our councilors playing another tiresome game of partisan politics against our Green District Rep. John Eder, who proposed the idea to a seemingly receptive Baldacci?
Why isn’t Baldacci giving us the half million dollars he promised? Did Baldacci change his mind about infusing the local marketplace with seed money so that Portland artists could afford to stay here? If I were running for re-election this November, as Baldacci plans to, I would not say “no” to our voting creative workers who tirelessly try to prevent a disappearing culture of young minds.
Frank Sanfilippo
Portland
