On Olympia Snowe's departure in The Daily Beast

As you've undoubtedly heard by now, Olympia Snowe, one of the last of the Yankee Republicans, has announced she is not going to seek reelection to the U.S. Senate this fall. And as you can probably imagine, it's created something of an earthquake here in Maine, where any additional candidates have only 15 more days to round up signatures.

Here's my piece on Snowe's departure at The Daily Beast, what it means for the Senate and House races here, and for the future of centrists and the Maine Republican party generally.

We may learn more about Snowe's decision on Friday, when she holds a press conference here in Maine.

For more background on Snowe's deteriorating position, try this Newsweek piece. On the changing face of the Maine Republican Party: this Down East article.

On the Maine Caucus results at The Daily Beast

On those occasions when my home state of Maine wanders in front of the national headlights, I provide coverage for Newsweek/The Daily Beast. Tonight was one of those occasions, owing to the fact that the state Republican presidential caucus might actually matter this time around. Here's my piece on Mitt Romney's narrow victory over Ron Paul here, which posted an hour ago.

The results matter mostly in terms of media narrative, both because there won't be another contest for 17 days and because, due to the state party's rules, they have no binding effect on the delegate count. Delegates are free to ignore the vote altogether and pledge their support to whomever they wish.

While the Maine caucus was good news for Romney, a national poll released today showed Rick Santorum leading the field. Romney will almost certainly be the GOP nominee, but he's going to be sweating it for some time to come.

Daily Beast: American Nations "a true triumph"

The Daily Beast/Newsweek has just published a glowing review of my new book, American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America.

"[In] offering us a way to better understand the forces at play in the rumpus room of current American politics, Colin Woodard has scored a true triumph," Beast reviewer Steve Kettmann writes. "The key to the book’s effectiveness is Woodard’s skill—and irreverence—in delving into history with no qualms about being both brisk and contrarian....Yankees come off the worst...and Woodard seems particularly aghast at their eagerness to claim the U.S. narrative as their own."

I particularly enjoyed that last bit, as it's indeed true. Yes -- as some Deep Southern sympathizers have pointed out -- I'm from Yankeedom; but what they don't realize is that I'm also a native Mainer and, thus, raised in a regional subculture that was conquered by -- and has remained skeptical of -- the Puritan project, including the seizure of the historical narrative of both the region and the federation. (For more on all this subregional discord, please see my second book, The Lobster Coast: Rebels, Rusticators, and The Struggle for a Forgotten Frontier.)

And I certainly don't mind being lumped in with Jon Stewart, who remains far and away the most forthright and insightful political commentator on U.S. television. (Happy to lend a hand, Jon, anytime you need someone on the show.)

Gov. LePage's first 100 Days: more bridges burned than built

My assessment of Maine Governor Paul LePage's first hundred days is up over at Newsweek / The Daily Beast. The abstract: he's caused himself a lot of damage over matters peripheral to his agenda and shows little indication that he's going to stop doing so anytime soon.

While I wrote the piece with Newsweek.com in mind, it was published wearing Daily Beast livery, as the operational merger of the two outlets is now complete, giving the latter control of all original digital content. The piece ran as written, but with a tabloid headline: "Maine's Madman Governor Paul LePage strike s again." I'd prefer they'd have substituted "volatile" for "madman," as the latter term calls for speculation.

For Maine politicos, a couple of tidbits that didn't make it into the piece:

The eight senators who wrote the OpEd blasting LePage have agreed not to comment further on the matter, both Sens. Roger Katz and Brian Langley told me, as they wish to "move on" with the business at hand. I also learned that the they almost certainly acted with the blessing of the Republican leadership, as the OpEd was shopped around and placed by Senate President Kevin Raye's press secretary (and As Maine Goes editor) Scott Fish.

G.O.P chair Charlie Webster told me the OpEd was "a clear example of legislators representing their constituencies. I totally understand why eight people signed it If they'd taken it around they could have gotten more house members and maybe a few more senators. People in Maine who are working for a living are tired of this -- the mural, the whoopie pies -- they don't want to hear about these things."

For additional context on the LePage administration, I offer this fresh Down East article on his environmental policies, a prophetic Newsweek.com piece from January and, of course, the "Secret Puppeteers" cover story from the Portland Phoenix.

Maine: Governor tells NAACP to "kiss my butt"

As you may have heard by now, the newly-elected governor of Maine, Paul LePage, is upholding his reputation for impolitic remarks. On the eve of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, the governor has told the NAACP to "kiss my butt."

My early filing on this just posted over at The Daily Beast. where you can find links to video of the governor in action. Updates should post shortly.

Lady GaGa in Portland

I don't usually cover the celebs, but Lady GaGa showed up across the street from my house yesterday, resulting in my filing this short down-and-dirty piece for the Daily Beast. She's trying to pressure Maine Sens. Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe to repeal the current policy on gays in the military.

A few details not in the piece: Ms. GaGa spoke from the open air bandstand at Deering Oaks Park, a venue usually associated with less prominent acts like Portland's Italian Heritage Club Band. She was preceded on stage by several vets kicked out of the service under the "don't ask, don't tell" policy -- including one who says he was asked and didn't tell, but got the boot anyway -- as well as by Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (who sits on the Armed Services Committee) and Portland's (unelected) mayor, Nick Mavodones.

Will be interesting to see if either of Maine's senators are willing to break the Republican filibuster and repeal the policy.

[Update, 9/21/10, 6:30 pm: On our senators, it looks like the answer is no.]