80’s House Republican leader and former unsuccessful statewide candidate Michael Bernhardt has told VPR he is considering entering the race for Vermont Governor as an Independent.
There, I reported it. You all can discuss if you want.
There is one thing that does make me go hmm a bit about this – at least when you combine this news with the question the previous diary raises, which is why 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 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.
Brian Dubie and his consultants are going to stick with what he has always done. Talk about “leadership” whateverthefuckthatis? After all, those who can, do. Those who can’t, talk about it endlessly in press releases.
Dubie will not take a position to alienate voters. Dubie will not take a position to alienate his base. Dubie will not take a position to alienate independents, Democrats or liberals or conservatives.
And the Vermont press corps will sit on their collective asses asking why Dubie’s opponents have not been able to pin him down on anything of substance. After all, it’s not their job to ask him what he will do and it’s not their job to report on the things Dubie won’t say or is afraid to discuss.
If Bernhardt is waiting to hear Dubie say something about the economy (a subject Dubie doesn’t understand in the first place, much less an area where he’ll actually offer policy), well then, Bernhardt can Fuhgetaboutit.
…Brian Dubie is apparently going to be our next great President. Just a few of the quotes from his facebook profile
Okay, so Brian Dubie’s been a successful statewide Republican in Vermont, we can grant him that. But to honestly believe a man whose popularity hedges upon being a nice family man and a strong Christian is clearly the way forward for the whole country… can’t make that stuff up.
Doobie reminds me of another fellow who was a “nice guy” and didn’t say much about anything… and he was elected President…twice! Will we lefties be smirking and making jokes about his being nothing but an empty suit next November 3 after our candidate, bloodied and out of money after a fractious primary, goes down in flames?
He is a popular guy, a formidable candidate who has won statewide office several times and should be taken VERY seriously.