Alex Hammer This Great State: A Rigorous Examination of Leadership in Maine - Present, Past and Future (words to live by)
In 2005 the State of Maine witnessed a contentious budget battle along party lines. Reacting to the passage of a budget eked out by Democrats 18-16 in the Senate (and 77-73 in the House) Senate Republican leader Paul Davis remarked "The Democrats had the numbers, and they got what they wanted. This is no different than a bully stealing a ball just because he can. In this case, the bully has stolen the checkbook and the credit card, and our children will be left to pay the bill". He added "This budget was approved with absolute arrogance rooted in ignorance and capped off with a Democratic Governor offering praise. It was disgusting."
Oct 10, 2008 - 12:19:45 AM
Alex Hammer This Great State: A Rigorous Examination of Leadership in Maine - Present, Past and Future (introduction)
In early 2006 I began the pieces that comprise this work. That followed a November 2005 incident in which I was struck by a pickup truck while a pedestrian in Bangor and seriously injured (29 days at Eastern Maine Medical Center followed by the better part of a year on crutches). During this time I feel that my life became deeper, and I hope that my writing became deeper as well.
Oct 9, 2008 - 3:19:08 PM
Alex Hammer Gambling is Like a Tax
If you think about it in terms of where the money starts out, and where it (some of it) ends up. All taxes are voluntary (theoretically speaking, not practically) in that if we don't want to pay them we simply don't buy anything, earn anything, or own property, etc.!
Jul 26, 2007 - 2:36:51 PM
Alex Hammer Maine 2007
I was glad to see some negotiated measure of school administration consolidation go through the legislature, even though I realize that it is controversial, if not unpopular. I do believe that all states must - within parameters that stay true to what in this case makes Maine great - plan for an economically viable future that insures that Mainers can, should they wish to, afford to stay and in fact thrive in Maine.
Jul 9, 2007 - 2:57:56 PM
Alex Hammer Examples of Transformational Leadership
There are two basic types of leadership. Transactional and transformational. Transactional leadership is the ability to direct people, manage resources, and get the job done. But transformational leadership, the most important form of leadership today, is the ability to motivate, inspire, and bring people together to higher levels of performance.
Dec 10, 2006 - 1:07:21 PM
Alex Hammer Thank You
You know it's funny in a way if you agree, what we learn about ourselves in life. I learned in this campaign that running for Governor is a little more difficult than I thought it would be. How much more difficult we'll find out on election day.
Nov 3, 2006 - 8:48:00 PM
Alex Hammer Endorsements
Some supporters have talked to me about a "November surprise". Not that they think I will win, but they feel that I am unique and in fact the best hope for Maine over four years (some feel I'll grow into the position and have good potential in that regard). I'm not predicting victory and it is up to the voters to decide who is the candidate who would be best able to work with others in leading our state.
Oct 26, 2006 - 10:07:00 PM
Alex Hammer The Unseen Force in Life
There is an unseen force in life that guides events. I believe that our life experiences in many respects are like a Rorschach test, bringing back to us -- bringing to the surface like a mirror -- our inner beliefs about ourselves and the world. Do we think that the world is friendly and full of opportunities? Or do we think it is full of fear, terror and dread?
Oct 18, 2006 - 10:05:00 AM
Alex Hammer Ok, I'm Sorry
I was speaking with a friend recently about how running for Governor was much more difficult than I envisioned it would be. He replied, "what, did you think that you would just waltz back into Maine after all these years and be embraced with open arms?"
Aug 28, 2006 - 8:22:00 PM
Alex Hammer Practicality and Partisanship
Part of leaderships is being effective. But what does that mean? In political terms, it involves dealing with partisanship.
Aug 23, 2006 - 11:09:00 AM
Alex Hammer Criticisms of Our Campaign
Dialogue is good. In addition to support and praise, these are some of the most common criticisms we have also encountered as I run for Governor.
Aug 22, 2006 - 11:24:00 AM
Alex Hammer Politics Isn't a Game
Some of the candidates for Governor, or their party, have been hurling
accusations of unethical behavior against other candidate(s) in a couple of well
publicized cases. None of these involve our campaign. Without attempting to
reach a conclusion in regard to the merit or lack of merit of any of these
claims, I am concerned that the focus is being taken off the economic and other
major issues facing Maine.
Aug 4, 2006 - 7:45:00 PM
Alex Hammer Gambling and TABOR
I am not lumping gambling and TABOR together. They are (of course) two totally distinct areas. But they're each examples of shortcut and inefficient attempts to arrive at desirable ends.
Aug 3, 2006 - 8:47:00 PM
Alex Hammer We Are Maine, Get Out of Our Way
Maine is a great state, and when I am Governor under our collective efforts it will be much greater.
Jul 25, 2006 - 10:33:00 AM
Alex Hammer Hammer Calls For Impeachment Proceedings Investigating Actions of President George Bush
Beyond my focus on global economic factors (and national ones) and how they impact Maine (including also healthcare, education and all policy areas), only a very small percentage of my overall focus is on national matters (including foreign policy) as I run for Governor of Maine. However, Maine exists (of course) not in isolation but within larger contexts, and we ignore important and critical events within those at our own peril.
May 11, 2006 - 2:28:00 PM
Alex Hammer Putting Lipstick on a Pig
I am reminded of a TV commercial from perhaps a couple of years ago (I do not watch much TV at the present, or in the past for that matter) in which (if memory serves) a supervisor was motivating, in an over the top manner, financial analysts, in regard to the supposed (likely imagined) virtues of a stock to sell to their customers. This was in the wake of the Wall Street scandal when as the market tanked analysts were not downgrading declining stocks. The conclusion and tagline of the commercial (maybe you’ve seen it too) is “Let’s put some lipstick on this pig”.
Apr 16, 2006 - 8:42:00 PM
Alex Hammer Reasons Not To Be Governor
There are, to my mind, some reasons not to be Governor. They include the
following ...
Apr 7, 2006 - 12:48:00 AM
Alex Hammer A Citizen’s Responsibility
I’ve written several Op-Eds and focused significant emphasis on what I consider a Governor’s responsibility, given that I am running for that office.
Mar 30, 2006 - 11:29:00 AM
Alex Hammer Dirigo – The Missing Piece
Most individuals are likely keenly aware that the issue of healthcare in Maine, including the Dirigo initiative, has come center stage, continuing into this election cycle.
Mar 18, 2006 - 8:17:00 AM
Alex Hammer A Positive Challenge to the Business of Maine Media
At Hammer For Maine Governor we believe that a mix of traditional methods and strategies better merged with leading emerging but established cutting edge practices and technologies better positions Maine further ahead in the curve of this hyper-competitive information-rich global economy that the world has become.
Mar 11, 2006 - 9:17:00 PM
Alex Hammer Why I Can Win
To those that do agree that I am the best candidate, I understand that it is likely at least one significant step further before I may win those votes. Individuals may also have the question, “Will he win?”
Mar 6, 2006 - 11:51:00 AM
Alex Hammer Why I am the Best Candidate for Governor of Maine
When you elect a Governor of Maine, what do you want? Do you want someone that is an expert in laws? Do you want someone with the most experience with the legislative process?
Feb 27, 2006 - 6:08:00 PM
Alex Hammer The Problem With Moral Victories
In a number of Op-Ed pieces in this and other newspapers throughout Maine I have detailed what I perceive to be some of the limitations of excessive partisanship.
Feb 18, 2006 - 7:54:00 PM
Alex Hammer Words to Live By
In 2005 the State of Maine witnessed a contentious budget battle along party lines.
Feb 12, 2006 - 1:17:00 PM
Alex Hammer What your $5 Gets You
$5 may not sound like much. But this is what I believe it can get you today: Democracy.
Jan 28, 2006 - 9:08:00 PM
Alex Hammer Economic Road Map and Tax Reform
Tax relief is a pressing concern to citizens of this state. Anybody paying attention to the feelings of Mainers who doesn’t know that just isn’t alive.
Jan 21, 2006 - 6:35:00 PM
Alex Hammer The Background of a Candidate For Governor
If memory serves, in the movie “Rudy”, near the end of the film when the main character is getting ready to enter the stadium to fulfill his dream of suiting up and eventually playing football for Notre Dame, he is asked if he is ready. He responds with a quote that is something similar to “I’ve been ready for this my entire life.”
Jan 13, 2006 - 9:25:00 AM
Alex Hammer This Great State
Maine is – those who live here and others would agree – a great state. But it can be greater. Politicians and others over the course of time offer their thoughts and visions in regard to how Maine can successfully meet its challenges and prosper or lead the way.
Jan 10, 2006 - 5:33:00 PM
Alex Hammer A Crowded Field For Governor
When I first started talking with people about my potential interest in running for Governor, the question that I received more than any other was, “Why are you interested in doing that?” After I made the decision that I would be entering the race, the most common question became, “Do you think that you can win?” Now that I am a registered candidate, a top question (among many) I encounter is “How are people going to find out more about you with so many other candidates?” This was the least anticipated of the three. So after pondering the matter further and discussing it with others I am sharing my thoughts on that question here.
Dec 21, 2005 - 8:39:00 PM
