# Gov. Lepage goes even farther off the rails **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 26, 2016, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gov-lepage-goes-even-farther-off-the-rails/764012 "2016-08-26T14:16:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2016, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gov-lepage-goes-even-farther-off-the-rails/764012/41 "2016-08-27T12:34:48Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > Yes, when the governor of a state who has previously made what is at best racially insensitive comments and at worst unfounded, unhinged racist comments is caught on tape in a rant filled with homophobic slurs and what is at best unprofessional behavior and at worst signs of serious psychiatric disorder, pedantic arguing over the legal arguments of whether or not it constituted a valid death threat absolutely IS the salient point. :dubious: Would you be happier if it was just “He sucks” “+1”? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2016, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gov-lepage-goes-even-farther-off-the-rails/764012/42 "2016-08-27T12:43:45Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > **boffking** is also an idiot. He’s amiable, and no racist, and his idiocy is more tolerable because he’s just some schlub on a message board and not a sitting governor. > > But **boffking** ’s idiocy does not get a pass merely because it’s directed at a worse idiot. So, which idiot do you decide to concentrate your ire upon? The lesser, of course. ---
**Author:** ![wevets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9a140/32.png) [@wevets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wevets)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2016, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gov-lepage-goes-even-farther-off-the-rails/764012/43 "2016-08-27T13:20:00Z")
Dude, that’s **Bricker** ’s _whole schtick_. Don’t mess it up for him. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2016, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gov-lepage-goes-even-farther-off-the-rails/764012/44 "2016-08-27T13:24:12Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Lepage is correctly called an idiot, but he’s not an arsonist. He’s not a smuggler. He’s not a armed robber. He’s not a counterfeiter. And he’s a _Republican_, dammit! Lay off the poor man! I mean just because he’s a public official with the power to screw with people’s lives, and even if \*\*boffking \*\*_is_ just some nobody with a laptop who found a seat at Starbucks, that’s no reason to denounce him! ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2016, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gov-lepage-goes-even-farther-off-the-rails/764012/45 "2016-08-27T13:28:13Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > And he’s a _Republican_, dammit! Lay off the poor man! I mean just because he’s a public official with the power to screw with people’s lives, and even if \*\*boffking \*\*_is_ just some nobody with a laptop who found a seat at Starbucks, that’s no reason to denounce him! Yes because that’s actually what happened. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2016, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gov-lepage-goes-even-farther-off-the-rails/764012/46 "2016-08-27T13:42:23Z")
Eh, I disagree with a lot of what **Bricker** says, but he’s right on this one. Lepage didn’t make a death threat, and to try to argue that he did is just silly. That said, I don’t think **Boffking** is an “idiot” as **Bricker** states. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2016, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gov-lepage-goes-even-farther-off-the-rails/764012/47 "2016-08-27T13:46:54Z")
> [@Grrr](#): > > Lepage didn’t make a death threat, and to try to argue that he did is just silly. From the very same link the OP so helpfully provided: > [@](#): > > And we would have a duel, that’s how angry I am, and I would not put my gun in the air, I guarantee you, I would not be (Alexander) Hamilton. I would point it right between his eyes :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2016, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gov-lepage-goes-even-farther-off-the-rails/764012/48 "2016-08-27T14:04:16Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > From the very same link the OP so helpfully provided: :rolleyes: Unless you think time travel is a real possibility, it wasn’t a death threat. And even if dueling were legal, the other party involved would still have to agree to the duel for it to be legal. Read what **Bricker** posted. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2016, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gov-lepage-goes-even-farther-off-the-rails/764012/49 "2016-08-27T14:40:39Z")
> [@Grrr](#): > > Unless you think time travel is a real possibility, it wasn’t a death threat. And even if dueling were legal, the other party involved would still have to agree to the duel for it to be legal. Read what **Bricker** posted. That’s right. All he is saying is that the only thing stopping him from shooting another man in the face, _a man that has not threatened him physically in any way_, is a pesky law. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2016, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gov-lepage-goes-even-farther-off-the-rails/764012/50 "2016-08-27T14:53:26Z")
Listen, ya’ll are being kind of obtuse, don’tcha think? I know nothing but law, but **Bricker** cited legal statute to back up his position. If you are so convinced the guy broke the law, present your own legal argument. ‘‘Nuh-huh!’’ isn’t a very compelling rebuttal. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2016, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gov-lepage-goes-even-farther-off-the-rails/764012/51 "2016-08-27T15:11:49Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > So, which idiot do you decide to concentrate your ire upon? > The lesser, of course. Of the two, I concentrate on the one that is a poster here, inasmuch as he’s in a position to read my remarks and profit by the factual correction – or, I suppose, rebut my correction and defend his conclusion that Lepage’s words constitute a crime. Were Lepage a poster, I would certainly devote more effort to offering up a critique of his positions. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2016, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gov-lepage-goes-even-farther-off-the-rails/764012/52 "2016-08-27T15:13:04Z")
He is quite adept at presenting partisan advocacy as objective analysis, yes, in the hope of getting his adopted pro bono client/party a reduced verdict. But this is the Court of Public Opinion and you don’t have to play his silly little games. **Grrr!** , would you feel better about calling it a threat of \*assault \*instead? Since he didn’t actually say he’d pull the trigger, I guess. But do please consider where you’re choosing to draw the line. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2016, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gov-lepage-goes-even-farther-off-the-rails/764012/53 "2016-08-27T15:24:57Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > That’s right. All he is saying is that the only thing stopping him from shooting another man in the face, _a man that has not threatened him physically in any way_, is a pesky law. A “pesky,” law, plus agreement by the challenged party. In other words, even if dueling were legal – even if the pesky law were changed – That’s NOT the only thing standing in the way. If dueling were legal, then it would still be necessary for Lepage to challenge Gattine to a duel and Gattine to accept. Lepage is not saying that he wishes it were legal to ambush Gattine and shoot him in the back. He’s saying that he wishes it were legal to invite Gattine to face him, armed, and exchange shots. To characterize it as you did is inaccurate. And of course… even if your summary were actually accurate, it still would not be criminal. That is, even if Lepage had called Gattine and said, “Gattine, you goat fucker, I hate you so much that if murder were legal the last thing you’d see is me aiming my H&K straight between your eyes,” that STILL would not constitute a criminal threat within the meaning of §210(1). ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2016, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gov-lepage-goes-even-farther-off-the-rails/764012/54 "2016-08-27T15:35:30Z")
Sigh … just tell **Bricker** “Congratulations, you win again” and maybe he’ll shut up. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2016, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gov-lepage-goes-even-farther-off-the-rails/764012/55 "2016-08-27T15:45:34Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > He is quite adept at presenting partisan advocacy as objective analysis, yes, in the hope of getting his adopted pro bono client/party a reduced verdict. But this is the Court of Public Opinion and you don’t have to play his silly little games. > > **Grrr!** , would you feel better about calling it a threat of \*assault \*instead? Since he didn’t actually say he’d pull the trigger, I guess. But do please consider where you’re choosing to draw the line. Lepage is a reprehensible dick. I am NOT defending his words. The only argument I’m trying to make is his words do not constitute a crime. And if Lepage’s words were directed at me, I personally wouldn’t feel “threatened”. No way in hell is a sitting governor, going to load his gun, get in his car, drive to my house and then proceed to shoot me. It just ain’t gonna happen, and you know this. So let’s stop trying to argue that this is a credible threat. Because it isn’t. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2016, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gov-lepage-goes-even-farther-off-the-rails/764012/56 "2016-08-27T15:54:35Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Sigh … just tell **Bricker** “Congratulations, you win again” and maybe he’ll shut up. It really bothers you that **Bricker** is usually right, doesn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2016, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gov-lepage-goes-even-farther-off-the-rails/764012/57 "2016-08-27T15:56:34Z")
You’re not quite getting it, are you? Yes, he’s adept at redefining or limiting the topic to an area where he can claim victory, but you don’t have to let him do that. So how is it that you fail to recognize a tactic you’ve seen on display so often? ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2016, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gov-lepage-goes-even-farther-off-the-rails/764012/58 "2016-08-27T16:00:23Z")
I’m kinda weirded out that the Governor of Maine feels he needs to introduce himself with his title and first middle and last name before leaving unhinged voicemails on a state reps phone. Does the state rep have other Governors, or other people named Richard LePage, leaving him voicemails calling him a cocksucker, and LePage wanted to make extra sure he wouldn’t get confused which one he was? Anyhoo, suggesting its criminal is silly. And kind of distracts from how crazy it is, which is the real story. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2016, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gov-lepage-goes-even-farther-off-the-rails/764012/59 "2016-08-27T16:05:03Z")
> [@Grrr](#): > > Lepage is a reprehensible dick. I am NOT defending his words. The only argument I’m trying to make is his words do not constitute a crime. Congratulations on letting yourself be Brickered. > [@](#): > > And if Lepage’s words were directed at me, I personally wouldn’t feel “threatened”. No way in hell is a sitting governor, going to load his gun, get in his car, drive to my house and then proceed to shoot me. It just ain’t gonna happen, and you know this. So let’s stop trying to argue that this is a credible threat. Because it isn’t. You’re insisting LePage’s words don’t mean anything at all, then. Not a damn thing. Okay then. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2016, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gov-lepage-goes-even-farther-off-the-rails/764012/60 "2016-08-27T16:05:20Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > You’re not quite getting it, are you? Yes, he’s adept at redefining or limiting the topic to an area where he can claim victory, but you don’t have to let him do that. So how is it that you fail to recognize a tactic you’ve seen on display so often? This board is supposed to be about fighting ignorance. If posters like boffking make unsupported claims about the law, it’s perfectly fine if **Bricker** , or other knowledgeable posters, make a correction. Do you not agree? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gov-lepage-goes-even-farther-off-the-rails/764012.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gov-lepage-goes-even-farther-off-the-rails/764012.md?page=4)