To go directly to the findings of the Critical Insights tracking poll, click on the image

A Critical Insights tracking poll reports that of those folks who think Maine is heading in the right direction, 46% believe that is because Governor LePage is "doing a good job," while "improving economy/jobs" is the next reason cited, at 24%. For those who believe the state is heading in the wrong direction, only 37% blame the governor, followed by 29% who blame the bad economy and a lack of jobs.

I spoke to MaryEllen FitzGerald, president of Critical Insights, about the numbers. She told me the Governor's approval rating has dropped just 4 percentage points, from 47% to 43%, since the same measurement was taken in the Fall of 2011. She agrees with me that the governor’s fairly stable favorability rating is surprising, given an onslaight of derisive editorial condemnations like this one by columnist like Bill Nemitz, and the ample negative press coverage about budget cuts and LePage’s use of the line item veto.

The poll was conducted from May 2 through May 7, so only some of those polled knew about LePage’s advice on Sunday to “all you able-bodied people out there: Get off the couch and get yourself a job.” Would his ratings have been even higher if all those polled had seen that news coverage? Impossible to say without hard data. But the poll does make you wonder, and raises the question of whether LePage’s core economic messages are resonating with Maine people, even if the media doesn’t like his less-than-elegant way of delivering them.

The poll was released to the press on Friday afternoon, so everyone will probably be reading about it in Saturday's papers. Members of the media: FitzGerald is available for comment at 207-772-7011.

After 2 years of nothing happening, things are starting to move.

Along with several other concerned business people, I started a group called Twin Cities Renaissance in 2000, in response to concern about the MERC incinerator. Our network grew to over 1,000 people.

The group has been dormant since the city of Biddeford walked away from "The Governor's Task Force To Close Maine Energy" a few years ago. I had worked closely with Biddeford's mayor at the time to persuade Governor Baldacci to appoint the task force. The mayor's close relationship with the governor's senior policy advisor, Karin Tilberg, was a key factor in the formation of the task force.

The task force closed up shop when the City left, and so ended any practical role for TCR. No MERC solution can happen without state involvement, because solid waste policy is hammered out in Augusta. Ask the state for help and then spurn it, well...at that point you have literally arrived at a dead end.

We have a new mayor, however, and all the parties are talking again. Lots of stuff in the news, as you probably know. So I set up a TCR Facebbok page today. I'll try to populate the page with useful information as this complex debate unfolds. Here's the link, so you can "Like" it.

I showed this to my wife, who said it would be a GREAT idea as a graduation present. She's a mom, so I certainly trust her instincts.

If you have a child who is graduating from high school or college, or if you know anybody who does, take just a minute to show this movie to them. Old Orchard Beach artist Ron Longtin has a pretty cool product called “morphs,” which I think would be the perfect graduation gift. After you watch the movie, tell me if you agree.

Of course any old ‘schmoe like me can cobble something together with handy tools like iMovie, YouTube, Photoshop, etc., but not with the level of polish and sophistication evident in Ron’s work. I think that for a keepsake that is intended to last for generations, his artist’s eye, and his talent as a musician, combine to produce an affordable product that has Hollywood-like professionalism. I think ol’ Ron is on to something with the launch of this new business.

If you’d like to reach Longtin, he’s at 207-710-4221, or ronaldlongtin@gmail.com. His web site is at: www.photoartistry-me.com.