More with the Mural

[rolanni]

And! It comes about there is a solution to the Matter of the Mural that saves Mayor LePage's face and does not compromise his. . .let's be charitable and call them "principles."

The Maine Republican Party is campaigning to raise $60,000 so that they can buy the mural from the Federal Government and thus free Mayor LePage from "distractions."*

Think of this. Sixty thousand dollars they can raise to "save face." Can they find sixty grand to feed the hungry, or heal the sick? Um, no. But to rescue the Mayor from a "distraction" that he himself created? Oh, hell yes.

The obvious and reasonable solution to the Matter of the Mural is to put the damn' thing back, honoring the artist's contract and the agreement with the Federal Government. Then have the Mayor put on his big boy pants and apologize for not having read the directions before he acted on his, um, principles.

So, OK; I really don't expect the apology. But putting the mural back just seems, I dunno, cost effective and efficient.


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*As reported by the news service for WWMJ-FM, Bangor Maine, this morning.

Comments

[sethb.livejournal.com]

How would that play with the artist's contract?

(With any luck, the artist could collect the $60K as a penalty for interference with his contract, and still force the mural to be re-hung.)

[rolanni.livejournal.com]

That would be Just and Fair. The artist has been keeping her head down, answering direct questions, but otherwise not saying much. I do hope she's engaged a lawyer. Or perhaps the Maine Arts Commission's lawyer might assist her.

[(Anonymous)]

I want to know if he paid overtime to the maintenance people who took the mural down in the middle of the night? Who will bear that labor cost? I hope both the artist and the feds sue him, personally, since I don't believe that the governor's duties should include this kind of decision making. The song is a good start though. Watching closely, hoping for better results all around, Kathy CA

[rolanni.livejournal.com]

I want to know if he paid overtime to the maintenance people who took the mural down in the middle of the night?

The assertion by the Official Apologist in the Governor's office is that no taxpayer money was used to remove the mural. So, I'm guessing a couple of Eager Tea Partiers in their brand-new weekend khakis and polo shirts inexpertly wielding screwdrivers after having a couple of beers and all het up on PRO-BUSINESS Kool-Aid. I hope that the artwork survived is relocation undamaged. No one knows that. Reportedly, it's being stored in an electrical closet in the Labor building.

I don't believe that the governor's duties should include this kind of decision making

Well, he didn't so much make a decision as he did leap to do his (anonymous) master's bidding. I believe that the person who is being paid to act as governor ought to review the rules attached to the situation he or his anonymous constituents find offensive, to be sure his reaction won't create more problems than it solves.

[dancinghorse.livejournal.com]

Hey! Somebody needs to send an A-NON-ee-moose letter demanding that he Put It Back Because He Is Wasting OUR MONEEZ on all this crap and Businesses Are Being Annoyed.

Would that work, you think?

You think?

...Bueller?

[rolanni.livejournal.com]

I don't think anything's going to work. The sheer weight of Teh Stoopid is. . .breathtaking.

Political Hay

[(Anonymous)]

So, are the commercials ready yet that point out that contributions to the Maine Republican party were spent on supporting an individual in evading personal responsibility for his actions ? for not reading contracts ? for purchasing (gasp) public art that was previously paid for ?

Bob

[elbales]

The stupid, it burns us.