U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk told workers in Norridgewock that he was committed to saving American manufacturing jobs — but that might not mean their jobs.

If the Republican presidential nominee was looking for a statement to make about the attacks in Cairo and Benghazi, Libya, Monday night, he might have tried this one.

In the heat of battle this presidential election year, accusations are flying from both campaigns of lies, half-truths and contradictions. Yet the candidates no longer show contrition when a statement is unmasked as a distortion or an out-and-out lie. Instead, they accuse the media of spin.

Mainers United for Marriage’s campaign manager, Matt McTighe, struck the right note of caution Monday in what was otherwise an enthusiastic rally in support of this year’s same-sex marriage referendum.

Faced with already high health care costs and steep inflation in health care premiums, Maine Republicans have used their legislative majorities and control of the Blaine House to change course.

If there were a new educational program likely to boost test scores, reduce absenteeism and generally make high school a more productive experience, you’d think school boards would be ready to jump on the wagon.