When Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., and House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., quit the (no longer) bipartisan deficit-reduction talks last week, it was not exactly a “Profiles in Courage” moment.

Nothing is more appalling than the sight of the Rev. Fred Phelps and his tiny band of followers from the fringe Westboro Baptist Church protesting outside military funerals.

Mid-April is a lousy time to have a holiday in Maine. What do we really have to celebrate? Mailing in our tax returns? Confronting the trash left behind by the retreating snow drifts?

You know what Maine Republicans need? More Jimmer.

You know what Maine Republicans need? More Jimmer. Jimmer Fredette, the sweet-shooting senior guard for Brigham Young University, led his team to the NCAA basketball tournament’s Sweet 16 by offering nothing but offense. He attacked his opponents’ weaknesses, exposed their deficiencies and scored at will. Jimmer-mania rocked the country.

So much for adult conversation and serious debate about the nation’s debt problem.

A legislative committee is tackling a long list of proposed changes to Maine’s gun laws this week, and most Mainers must be asking themselves why.