| When I moved to Vermont in the 1980's and started paying attention to state and Burlington politics I developed the view that in Burlington the Democratic Party had pretty much become the tool of the Republicans, and that the only idea they hated worse than losing power for themselves was having the Progs get it (they were called the Progressive Coalition, a/k/a the Sanderistas, back then). It seemed to me at the time that in fighting their rearguard action against the insurgency they made common cause with the R's more often than not.
Fast forward twenty-four years. The old days are gone, the D's have elected some genuine left-wingers to the State House (such as my old friend and fellow Winooski 44 defense counsel Sandy Baird), and Progressive Pete ran for Gov. as a Democrat.
So what's going on here? If the D's and P's had stuck together they could have elected a P City Council President, but no, one Democratic Councilor crossed over, and together with all the R's, ensured the election of Republican Councilor and State Rep Kurt Wright as City Council President.
I don't have anything against Kurt Wright, but I can't help be struck by the contrast. In Montpelier our newly appointed representative Jon Anderson is roundly excoriated by local Democrats by crossing over and siding with the Republicans in his first important vote, while in Burlington there hasn't been much outcry at the prospect of the Democrats failing to hold together to support someone who should be their political and ideological ally.
So I ask you: WTF? |
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