Tuesday night, at the Knox County Republican Headquarters on Park Street in Rockland, a packed house gathered to hear election updates and our local representatives speak.

What we got in addition to Chris Rector, Les Fossel, Carole Gartley, Bob Carter, Jethro Pease and Michael Collins, was Chuck Mahaleris, who serves as the Secretary of Maine GOP committee and an aide to Susan Collins U.S. Senator from Maine and Bruce L. Poliquin Treasurer for the State of Maine. Bruce Poliquin was energetic and well spoken. He was funny and insightful.

Here are some of his best quotes of the night:

"Everyone knows what the problem is, everyone knows our government is too big... and when you have a government that's too big what happens? You have to charge a fortune in taxes and fees to pay for it. When that happens we draw business investment away, we draw jobs away... our kids have to leave and what have you got? You have a series of fiscal calamities."

"Greece and Spain and Portugal and Ireland who have spent so much money for such a long period of time they have a huge entitlement from cradle to grave and now Greece is saying - well - we know the Germans are coming here to bail us out but we don't want to cut our budgets.. we don't want to cut or salaries.... what a mess.. what a mess."

"These folks in DC have spent about a trillion and a half dollars more of your money.. of our money than they have collected from us each of the last 4 years and do you know how they make up the difference? They borrow or worse they print it..."

After Bruce Poliquin's speech, each candidate spoke of their desire to improve Maine and in doing so, directly or indirectly improve the country as a whole.

The meeting was part social gathering with like minded patriots and part business meeting with strategies for winning this November.

With the recent lies of the Obama administration and the power of Mitt Romney's debate performance, now is the time to unify the Republican party.

Vote Republican on November 6th 2012. For information on volunteering or for signs and literature please call 594-5118.