And Another Thing …

Gov. Baldacci is in Ireland this week, on a mission to learn about that country’s economic successes. Ireland several years ago became famous for its roaring Celtic Tiger economy, but then discovered housing shortages in its major city and population loss and continued poverty in its rural areas. We’re certain the people of Ireland will make the governor feel at home.

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The unhappiest New York Yankees supporters last week could be found at that city’s fine newspaper, The Post. Apparently, the newspaper had to go to print during the seventh game of the Yankees-Red Sox pennant series and never got to see Truman homer off Dewey in the bottom of the 11th.

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The Senate continues its sizzling pace on corporate reform after the Enron/WorldCom scandals. Its Patriot Tax bill, which would amend the Internal Revenue Code to prevent corporate expatriation to avoid U.S. income taxes, was introduced last winter in committee and now it has … well, it’s still in committee. On the other hand, the proposal’s opponents say the debate over companies choosing to reincorporate in Bermuda is likely drawing the attention of other organizations to the benefits of moving offshore.

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A reader reports that on National Public Radio the other morning a commentator said the Bush administration was “going on the offensive to defend its Iraq policy.” Exactly. And vice versa.

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Public Safety Commissioner Michael Cantara said his department’s embarrassing announcement on a recent Tuesday that 132 Maine cities and towns had been selling booze on Sundays illegally for 25 years was caused by “ambiguous” language in the statute that stated they could sell booze on Sundays. Fortunately, the Attorney General’s Office cleared up the mistake by that Wednesday, thereby avoiding a run on stores by Saturday. Government may be accused of acting slowly sometimes, but it sure moves when crucial issues arise.