Critics abound, and they always will. They should. Pursuing truth is a high calling. Our Founders urged us to test each other’s mettle. Emerson praised those who “earn the appreciation of honest critics.” Theodore Roosevelt warned of being the “Man in the Arena.” So, here we go!
As leading candidate to be Maine’s next Governor, critics are on me like black flies in June, and that’s okay. Credible polling – the nation’s best – has us double digits on the GOP field for governor, while Democrats keep dying on all the wrong hills, their credibility in a vertical dive.
When we rolled out that list of Democrat failures, plans to “cut taxes, cut crime, end the nonsense,” and hit their corruption, Democrats flipped. The Democrat Governors Association and every candidate, called me “racist” – until comments on their own websites favored me.
To be clear, there is no backing down. Maine’s Democrat Party has systematically gamed Maine taxpayers, stealing money from MaineCare (Medicaid), sole source contracts, the works. They know it, and they know I know it. It implicates the governor, attorney general, secretary of state, senior legislators and, yes, those migrant-run non-profits, including Somalis large on fraud.
Let’s start there. In parallel with the billion-dollar Somali fraud in Minnesota – largest welfare fraud in history – Democrats and Somali leaders in Maine have opened themselves wide to federal and state – once I am governor – investigations. It must happen. It will.
Why the slams? Democrats are terrified of me, a former litigator, federal investigator, US Court of Appeals clerk, and oversight maven who took down feds, did criminal referrals, taught oversight at Harvard, and is – going to find out the truth. Frankly, they should be scared.
That does not make me “racist.”
They have fumbled the ball. They picked the wrong guy to call “racist.” Unanimously confirmed assistant secretary to serve two black Secretaries of State, endorsed by the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), having lived with India’s Untouchables to get their cases to the Supreme Court, unit commissioner for the Boy Scouts in New York’s Harlem when we had two Eagle Scouts, my life has been service.
That said, I do hate one thing – arrogant law breakers, corrupt officials, system gamers, those stealing public money, abusers of public trust, cover-ups, and people calling truth-sayers “racist.”
A few other nits, as leaders always take flak:
“Not born in Maine.” True. Born at Portsmouth Naval Hospital, Virginia. Father was enlisted Navy, USS Kittyhawk, mother delivered in a Navy hospital. I did not get consulted about any of this. My father and grandfather (Navy, USS Colorado) both lie at Arlington. I grew up in Wayne, Maine, elementary school until graduating in 1978, from Maranacook High School.
“First voted in Maine in 2022.” Fake news. Registered to vote in Maine in 1978, voted in Maine for Ronald Reagan in 1980, vote in Maine until 1988. Lifetime Republican, no political detours, always a conservative. Clerked for a Reagan judge, three years Reagan White House, ten years Navy Intelligence, trusted with Nation’s secrets. When the nation calls, you go, then come home.
“Council on Foreign Relations, member.” True. Like William F Buckley, one of the greatest conservative minds of the last 100 years, I was selected at age 27 to this national debating society for top military, legal, business, and academic leaders, including some in President Trump’s cabinet. Its members are regularly consulted by President Trump and Vice President Vance.
“Company lobbied for California.” True, California law enforcement. Law enforcement nationwide have sought out my company for 25 years. We are experts in strategy, operations, studies, and advocacy. Worked for America’s top law enforcement groups, was top counter-narcotics strategist and metrics architect for the US National Guard – all 50 states, creating the nation’s first “threat-based resource allocation model,” pushing outcomes and efficiency.
I have written 50 major studies for five US military commands (classified and unclassified) to assist in take downs of major drug trafficking groups, supported law enforcement at all levels – local, state, and federal. Clients included our nation’s top law enforcement, treatment, and prevention groups, National Narcotics Officers Association, National Sheriff’s Association, Major County Sheriffs, DARE America, Partnership for a Drug Free America, and others.
Go back in time. In the early 2000’s, California faced “meth super labs” – shipping meth nationwide, including to Maine. My group was tasked with helping the AG’s counternarcotics team create and push efforts to take down meth super labs – saving American lives. If you speak twice to government on policy, you must file a lobby form. We did, no apologies. This is why I am ready Day One, and why those pushing to legalize hard drugs in Maine hate me.
“Worked on NATFA.” Total baloney, never worked on NATFA. That now expired trade deal has nothing to do with me.
“Directed policy during Afghanistan poppy boom.” Bogus. My team went after drug traffickers and terrorists across Afghanistan after 9-11. I was in charge of training the police there, in Iraq, Kosovo, Colombia and elsewhere. Highly successful. Managed two billion dollars-worth of complex programs, fired tricky bureaucrats, and ran the largest armed airwing outside the Pentagon. Took operational readiness from 60 percent to 85 percent. No apologies for protecting America. Our programs attacked heroin growth in Afghanistan and Colombia that fed terror.
“Contracted with private firms.” Yes, companies work for consumers, firms, or government. We assisted counternarcotics, law enforcement, and national security. Spent my life defending the Bill of Rights, litigating, writing, and teaching it, have written 2000 articles defending our rights.
“Involved in Patriot Act.” Rubbish. Nothing to do with it. Congress passes bills and Presidents sign them. When “Patriot Act” was passed after 9/11, I was active-duty Naval Intelligence, on orders, on watch to protect the fleet, fellow military service members, and America.
“Employs former intelligence officers” True. Have 1099s for counter-narcotics, including top experts from DEA, special forces, and intelligence. Law Enforcement deserves the best.
“Connected to Dartmouth College secret societies.” This one made me laugh out loud. At Dartmouth, I was selected into a “senior society” for grades and athletics. I gave the “Address to the College,” graduated Phi Beta Kapa, got the “All-Around Achievement Award,” went on to Oxford to study economics. We never thought we ran the world, but we did … drink some beer.
When you lead the field, by double digits no less, it is expected that Democrats, never-Trumpers and those hungry for power and attention will line up to take shots. We are very serious, leading, and taking fire. That is fine. I am proud of every job, mission, and outcome for America, ready to fix Maine.
P.S. In anticipation of the next wave of critics, let me say, I never served at at Area 51, Roswell, New Mexico. All critics aside, time to fix Maine.
