(Why is) Auditor Tom Salmon is still running around in decidedly un-Auditor-ial arenas still trying to make himself into a teabagger hero, when he (and his pals) have decided that Brian Dubie is the gubernatorial candidate and de facto Party leader?
One wonders if the two stories suggest a common, underlying theme, as articulated by (Potential Independent Candidate for Governor Michael) Bernhardt:
“While the lieutenant governor (Dubie) has a record, there are a lot of folks who haven’t heard him talk on how he’s going to handle (the economy). So it’s raised some concern.”
It’s still a long time to the full-on electoral season. Lots of things can still happen, especially if GOP insiders are feeling sketchy about their anointed (for now) candidate.
From the Vermont Press Bureau today:
Native Vermonter, businessman and former ambassador Rodolphe “Skip” Vallee said Friday he is thinking about running to replace Gov. James Douglas.
[…] “I know Brian Dubie, I like Brian Dubie, I respect Brian Dubie,” Vallee said. But, he added, “I learned a long time ago that elections are not anointments. My view, whether it is people reaching out to me or to anybody else, is that Vermonters really need to have a full range of choices both within their party and certainly in a general election.”
What’d I tellya? The big money fiscal conservative wing of the GOP is nervous about Dubie’s ability to win, and whether he can be reliably counted on to do what he’s told. Mark my words – there’s gonna be a primary, whether it’s Vallee or someone else.
everything will flow from their obsession with taxes and shrinking government; as always, it will be characterized as concern for “jobs”
and of course the media will neglect to point out how miserably the Republicans have failed while slavishly quoting them as they bash the Dems / Left for being anti-business
in light of the recession, this election will be even more focused on the economy than usual; so – as I discussed in my note to Deb Markowitz (“an appeal to reason”), will the Dem candidates (finally) challenge the status quo or try to outdo the Republicans with tired and misleading slogans?
BTW – an update on the Joint Fiscal Committee’s consideration of the wasteful VEPC background growth methodology (which I discussed in an earlier diary): the committee was unwilling to act decisively and chose instead to ask another as yet un-named committee to look into it and make recommendations; this likely means another year (and lots more money) wasted; so if I seem frustrated, it’s because I am; it’s rare that such a no-brainer is presented on a platter; an opportunity lost…
Eating re-fried beans
We’re in all the magazines
Gulpin’ down thorazines
One big happy family indeed. Just in time for Thanksgiving, the GOP turkeys are coming home to roost.
We ain’t got no friends
Our troubles never end
No Christmas cards to send
Daddy likes men
Daddy’s telling lies
Baby’s eating flies
Mommy’s on pills
Baby’s got the chills
I’m friends with the President
I’m friends with the Pope
We’re all making a fortune
Selling Daddy’s dope
The big money fiscal conservative wing of the GOP
… do you mean the Rich Tarrant/Jack McMullen wing? The winners’ wing? Gee, Maybe we should all go volunteer on Skip’s primary campaign.
who Peter Freyne harpooned so often after putting a gazilllllion dollars into a Chittenden County Senate Race and ended up on the bottom of the pile???
The same guy who showed up at the Raddison on the Day Senator Jim decided to announce to Vermont that he was fed up with Bush and Dick and the lies about education and was leaving the party; showed up in a very ugly over sized suit and called Our Senator Benedict Arnold???
The same guy who still has his hand in our pocket as a retail wholesaler of gas, getting profit twice on every gallon and who was a party to stopping the COSTCO from putting in a station that would have given Chittenden County a break from his Price Control activity??
Jeesum, and I thought Jim=Jobs was bad… It will be a true test of the need for finance reform if gobs of money can buy the election….