It's Been Real

Radical cred? (3.67 / 3)

Do I get a coupon or something?


You can read more of JD Ryan at five before chaos. But why would you want to?

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by: JDRyan @ Mon Feb 26, 2007 at 21:40:40 PM CST

Thanks Odum (4.00 / 2)

Thanks for your good work. Odum you have added so much to the political dialog of Vermont. Sometimes, it may feel that some of the stuff fell on deaf ears or blind eyes but I'm sure there are more thanks. Any method that gets a discussion revolving around an issue is good. Enjoy your wife and kids, and we see your guest comments on occasion.

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by: RobbKidd @ Mon Feb 26, 2007 at 22:47:35 PM CST

Wha? (3.67 / 3)

Hey, I just was telling you what a great job you are doing and now you've gotta go?

What are those bastids doing to you and how can we support you and your family?

This stinks.

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by: woodpile @ Mon Feb 26, 2007 at 23:31:20 PM CST

Can't say I'm shedding tears..... (1.00 / 3)

.... but every now and then you produced a useful nugget of information.

If this promise of yours holds true, then I surely can no longer say you are without principles.

Best of luck.

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by: GiveTexasBack @ Tue Feb 27, 2007 at 00:35:04 AM CST

This is really just sad (2.50 / 2)

Odum-- I completely understand your choice and respect it.  I just have to say, though, that it makes me profoundly sad. 

This is a real loss.

juliewaters.com

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by: JulieWaters @ Tue Feb 27, 2007 at 04:53:35 AM CST

It's All Too Real (4.00 / 2)

I'm deeply disappointed.

I hope that readers and Vermonter's blogging community will stop and think about what's transpired here.

Certainly SVR supporters need to think about the character of their leaders, who would go after a blogger's employment as Naylor so clearly set out to do in his press release on Friday.  Interestly, those comments regarding Odum's job have been edited from the version that went up on Naylor's SVR website, but not from any of the copies that went to every newsroom (and who knows where else) around the state.

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by: Thomas.Rowley @ Tue Feb 27, 2007 at 06:31:03 AM CST

keep in mind.... (4.00 / 2)

This isn't just because of the SVR thing.. don't give them credit where not due. John's job in general makes it hard for him to be a political blogger, especially when he criticizes people or agencies that his employer has to deal with, and this was just the latest in a series.

And this is hardly a victory for SVR in that if something new pops up, you can be damn sure it's going to be front paged here. They can't threaten my employment. It's sure not going to make the facts in this case go away any more than it's going to make Thomas Naylor an honest man.

You can read more of JD Ryan at five before chaos. But why would you want to?

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by: JDRyan @ Tue Feb 27, 2007 at 08:59:23 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Agreed... (3.50 / 4)

... I don't think Naylor, et al, deserve credit so much as recognition of their intent.

Engaging in the politics of personal destruction would seem to be part of the agenda at SVR.  That and hiding facts that they know Vermonters would find repugnant.

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by: Thomas.Rowley @ Tue Feb 27, 2007 at 13:01:16 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Odum, (3.67 / 3)

I am so sorry to hear that you are leaving.  There have been many times that your posts have made me think and even a few times that I have agreed with you.

I know all too well what it feels like to have someone who opposes you politically come after your personal life.  I had an experience like that when I was involved with the Burlington GOP.  Words cannot describe how it feels.  Words cannot express my sympathy.

Best of luck,
Charity

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by: shesright @ Tue Feb 27, 2007 at 07:27:55 AM CST

sorry to see you go (4.00 / 2)

I understand, but hope to see you back here.  Thanks for the work.

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by: Ed Weissman @ Tue Feb 27, 2007 at 07:41:06 AM CST

Odum, Tom Paine (4.00 / 4)

SVR has used a tactic it criticizes 'Republicrats' of using.
Perhaps the whole damn organization is a Homeland Security project (think of the timeline on SVR's founding).  It's a disgrace for SVR, an insult to thinking Vermonters, and a loss to all of us who read and use this site.  But remember Nixon?  (Odum, you'll hate this)  The day will come when Naylor and Williams will have to send out a press release saying: "You won't have the SVR to kick around anymore."  Only they won't make a comeback.  If you're not outraged, you're not paying attention, as the saying goes--who'd a thunk SVR would stand by its racist cronies in Dixie to the extent of smearing and attempting to destroy an open forum for Vermonters to speak out on injustice, war, and BIGOTRY.
Wonder how they're going to handle Dave Van Deusen and the GMAC?

I, for one, hope you'll be back, Odum, for the BIG SHOW in '08.  By then, SVR will probably have endorsed Giuliani from its new location in exile--South Carolina.

Good luck to you.  And great work.  You've turned them into 'running dogs' and that's no mean feat.  Rob Williams has removed Robert Riversong's page from the SVR blog, and yesterday, I asked Jim Hogue to resign.

Peter Buknatski
Montpelier
former SVR blogger (fuck 'em!)

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by: PeteySweety @ Tue Feb 27, 2007 at 10:29:38 AM CST

What you can do (4.00 / 1)

You're quite the character, Petey. Next time you talk to Ed D. have him give you my phone #, we should do a beer.

As you already know, Naylor ran with his tail between his legs from the Langdon event due to the fact of the 'risk' of people asking questions about this. Let's not let him off the hook. That event is still taking place, it's at Green Mount Cemetery on Colchester Ave. in Burlington, Sunday Mar. 4th at 2 pm. It would be great if a bunch of people showed up and put these guys on the spot, because I doubt the dead people will be asking too many questions. Rally the troops.

You can read more of JD Ryan at five before chaos. But why would you want to?

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by: JDRyan @ Tue Feb 27, 2007 at 10:52:34 AM CST

[ Parent ]

OR (4.00 / 1)

Not that I think it's a bad idea for folks to do that, but at this point my thinking is more along the lines that, OK, they've defined themselves, their 'principle', and their illogical (Fox News style) reaction to criticism (from supporters and non-supporters alike).  Now, they are useless.  I don't pay attention when the Legalize Marijuana Party says or does anything -not because I don't agree with their goals, but because they are irrelevant.  SVR deserves to be ignored, as the mainstream press will likely be doing from here on out (good-bye fluffy Section C stories in the Times-Argus, they're not really known to spread the message of folks tied with bigots).  What a shame.

-In America the people fear their government; in France, it is the government that fears the people

www.integralpsychosis.com

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by: wdh3 @ Tue Feb 27, 2007 at 12:39:30 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Hat's Off to Odum (4.00 / 2)

I hope that you will not remain quiet for long.  I originally came to this site because I was intrigued by GMDs hosting of the Lieutenant Governor's debate on line.

It was a revelation of a completely new way to stay informed and involved- especially with local politics.

Obviously, I am not from the same wing of the Democratic Party as you are; but, in the end, differences of opinion don't really matter.

What matters is that I really respect the way you've managed (with the rest of the front pagers here at GMD) to develop a community for political discussion.

I will miss our occasional debates and I will very much miss reading and reacting to your posts and your insight.

I wish you the best...and thank you.

Alex, (goDLC)

---The victors called the revolution a triumph of liberty; but now and then liberty, in the slogans of the strong, means freedom from restraint in the exploitation of the weak.

--Will Durant, "The Story of Civilization: Caesar & Christ"

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by: goDLC @ Tue Feb 27, 2007 at 14:04:40 PM CST

no joy in mudville (4.00 / 1)

Damn!

Odum, you were good.

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by: ed @ Tue Feb 27, 2007 at 14:57:41 PM CST

Whoa boy! (4.00 / 1)

Why is it the coolest people you ever meet are the ones who are always the first to go?

Odum come back soon. We'll be waiting for you and when you do... I'm sure it will be like Gandalf coming down the side of the mountain with his army at the end of "The Two Towers." ... Sorry if I'm getting too sentimental and cheesy here.

Like GoDLC, the Lt. Gov. debate was a coup! Election night coverage was fantastic... and capturing Senator Leahy's "Bush shouldn't be worried... he should be terrified" line was the best. Front page on Buzzflash and everything! How many new visitors did you get that day anyway?

Onward my man. Good things await you.

"Why is it a penny for your thoughts but you gotta put your two cents in? Somebody out there is making a penny." -Steven Wright

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by: Brattlerouser @ Tue Feb 27, 2007 at 19:23:52 PM CST