Has an incumbent U.S. senator from Maine ever been denied renomination?
— Lisa Tilton, Wilton, Maine A: At least one. Sen. Ralph Brewster lost his bid for another term in the 1952 Republican primary to Gov. Frederick Payne. Q: Why am I addicted to politics? Politicians always make something out of nothing. They talk about what they are going to do, and then don’t do what they said they were going to do. Nothing seems to really ever get accomplished except hype, patting each other on the back, and throwing mud at others. I may be crazy (and Ken, you are not a doctor), but why is this common working person so fascinated by politics? There’s certainly no morality in it. Maybe it’s the drama? Whatever it is, I can’t seem to get politics out of my head. Am I confused, or just lost? I need to understand. — Earl McGuire, Rock Falls, Ill. A: I may not necessarily agree with your characterization of politicians, but I share your addiction. And while I don’t completely understand it, either, I’m not apologetic about it at all. I’m with you, Earl. It’s like we’re jun
