When we look back on The Steroids Era in baseball, we’re going to see a bunch of players who broke the rules and grew to an unnatural behemoth size, and how the people who were supposed to provide oversight either turned a blind eye or even encouraged it.

Well, if you think about it, wasn’t our economy in sort of a similar Steroids Era?  Real estate prices were pushed to unsustainable levels, Wall Street raked in unhealthy and astronomical profits, and our SUV’s looked like they had a case of elephantitis.  

The poster child for the Excess Economy was Wal-Mart, the king of suburbia that built Big Box Supercenters anywhere it could find cheap land, introduced oversize shopping carts for its Canyero-driving customers, bought cheap goods in bulk from China, and was the darling of Wall Street.

Like in MLB, the oversight into Wal-Mart’s unprecedented behavior didn’t exist.  Bush was Bud Selig.  So while Wal-Mart may have broken records, it left an ugly legacy on the American economy by destroying small towns, short-changing workers, and selling out American vendors in favor of China.

I’ve had enough with The Steroids Era, and so that’s why I’m doing some work with Wake Up Wal-Mart this summer.  Like in baseball, it’s time to reform the system and restore American tradition in our economy.  Join us if you’re sick and tired another so-called “record breaker” juicing the system.  

[Cross-posted at Broadsides.org]

The news of Vermont State Senator and Lieutenant Governor candidate Ed Flanagan being accused of masturbating at the Burlington YMCA continues to rile the waters of Vermont’s media (just take at look at the comments in my previous post).

This morning, I had the opportunity to hear WDEV’s Mark Johnson Show, in which the host of the show decided to unleash an editorial castigating the Burlington Free Press and the rest of the Vermont media for its poor handling of this issue. Specifically, Johnson was annoyed by the fact that the Free Press didn’t include specific information about Flanagan’s “brain injuries” that would have, in effect, both convicted and defended Flanagan of the alleged behaviors. Johnson, for example, cited a website that documented the “inability to control personal desires” as a symptom of the brain injuries that Flanagan is apparently a victim of.

“Why,” Johnson asked, “didn’t they at least quote from this website?”

Well, Mr. Johnson, because Flanagan is denying the allegations. And, in a news story, it’s just supposed to be about the facts as they exist at the time the facts are being written.

Here, for your reading pleasure, is my letter to Mark Johnson:

Hey Mark,

Your commentary today regarding Ed Flanagan was off base for a couple of reasons. The news story in the Free Press that you were upset with was, indeed, a “news” story. Thus, it is supposed to rely upon the facts as they exist at the time of the writing. And those facts are (as they continue to be): Flanagan has been accused of lewd acts (yes, masturbating in public is a lewd act) and Flanagan is denying it. Given those facts, even mentioning his car accident is a bit far afield. Flanagan is, again, denying it.

In your commentary today, you took the Free Press (and the Vermont media in general) to task for not citing brain injury experts or websites to help “explain” Flanagan’s condition and, as a result, the alleged actions. But if the media did what you are suggesting they do — and what you did today on your show — they would be both convicting Flanagan and defending him. Those are not the roles of the media — unless, perhaps, we’re talking about the editorial page.

Flanagan has had many opportunities to address this issue and not once has he cited his brain injury. Instead, he has totally denied these allegations and declared his intentions to continue to seek higher office.  Thus, in the strict “who, what, where and why” of news journalism, his accident and his injuries from it are not relevant to this allegation.

If, however, Flanagan, his family, or his lawyer or spokesperson made a statement regarding his brain injury in relation to this allegation then the story and the role of the media would certainly change.

I know you don’t want to go here but I can’t help but thinking that your verbal editorial today had much to do with the cozy relationship between what I’ve often referred to as the “power elite” in Vermont. Specifically, your Flanagan editorial today seemed like an inappropriate rush to defend a fellow member of the political, economic and media “elite.”

If, as you seem to be suggesting, the Vermont media should be including possible explanations for alleged behavior that is being denied in their news stories, I’d invite you to set up shop at the Barre courthouse some morning and offer some commentary on all the possible defenses and explanations for those being paraded in front of the judge. If you followed your Flanagan rationale, I bet it would sound something like this: “Oh, there goes Joe Vermont, he’s pleading not guilty to DUI but we all know he comes from five generations of alcoholics…”

It’s a very slippery slope, indeed.

All the best,

Michael Colby

[Addendum: In another thread, Doug Hoffer asks people to “back off the armchair diagnoses” with regards to this case. Agreed, if it also includes those who are convicting and/or defending Flanagan because of his apparent brain injuries.]

For background on this, please read CL's post about it here.

I went down to the AIV seminar this morning to have a look, it was about 3/4th's full, and Jon Margolis was still not allowed to attend as a member of the press, although he did interview a few folks. I had a moment or two to sit down with him and get his thoughts on the matter:

Today the Associated Industries of Vermont will bring together the Douglas appointees (as opposed to the impartial career experts) charged with pushing through the proposed new State land all-terrain vehicle laws. The meeting relates to the regulations (laws) governing archeological sites.

What’s happening behind closed doors, after the flip.

From the Newsguy

From nine in the morning to (roughly) four in the afternoon on Thursday, Vermont business leaders will meet at the Capitol Plaza Hotel across the street from the State House in downtown Montpelier with senior state officials – including Jonathan Wood, the Secretary of the Agency of Natural Resources, who is scheduled to be the lunch speaker – to discuss “major regulatory developments” . . .

[Archeological] rule revisions are controversial. Archeologists and their supporters argue that the proposed changes would eliminate preservation on ” lands that have potential (archeological) sites, and restrict it to known sites. That leaves us only investigating areas where there are known historical sites,” said John Crock, an archeology professor at the University of Vermont.

Mmmmmm  So what’s going on?

More Newsguy

. . . Thursday’s conference will provide an opportunity for partisans on one side of the debate – the side that wants to “clarify”( or weaken as the case may be) the rules- to spend several hours presenting their case to some of the very officials who will make the final (though not quite irrevocable) decision.

The event, in short, is newsworthy. . . it will provide some people the opportunity to try to convince those government officials to make the public policy the guests want.

Too bad the Newsguy, along with anyone else who wants to commit an act of journalism, is banned from covering this off-the-record meeting w/public officials.

And what did AIV tell the Newsguy when AIV said “no journalism beyond this line?”

“It’s not like any sort of official meeting, . . . It’s a seminar. It’s not an event for (government) agency folks to listen to us as much as an event for us to listen to agency folks. People come with the expectation that it’s going to be an off-the-record meeting.”

Isn’t that special. No lobbying, no expressing views to government officials, no attempts to shape policy, no officials answering questions about changing state policy.

We should just take that on faith, right?

So what do the lobbyists at Associated Industries tell their members, i.e., the people who are coming merely so they can (cough cough) “listen to agency folks” as AIV claims?  Well AIV tell participants that a goal of AIV is to:

“bring [them] to the table with administration officials, regulators, and legislators to engage directly in the legislative and regulatory process.”

The “regulatory process.”  That would be the regulatory process governing how you and I use (or don’t use) State lands. And “bringing AIV members to the table…to engage directly in the…regulator process” is just what they say publicly. What does AIV say it expects to deliver from government officials in private?  Guess we won’t know will we.

I’ve had several conversations already with people about the news regarding Ed Flanagan. Among those in the circles I run, there is compassion, concern and sadness. However, I know full well that, among other circles, the reaction will be quite the opposite. This is why the sourcing on the story better be rock solid, as there is likely to be an avalanche of anti-gay sentiment from the right at this news.

Flanagan, of course, has had an extraordinary political career. As State Auditor, he was the first openly gay statewide officeholder in the nation. Love him or hate him, he has been a fierce advocate for progressive priorities, and he transformed the Auditor’s office during his tenure into a state watchdog operation. And his continuing work in the State Senate, despite his accident and subsequent Traumatic Brain Injury has been downright inspirational.

These untoward allegations, of course, come in the wake of charges delivered via Seven Days’ Ken Picard of Flanagan’s mental fitness for holding office. Setting aside, for a moment, the fact that (like it or not) its up to voters to make that call, I never bought it. Flanagan’s TBI clearly presents several challenges for him, and observing as well as interacting with him, its easy to infer that one of them is a challenge of focus. But the fact is, when he engages that focus, it seems to me he is “all there.” If he’s representing his constituents with honesty, integrity and intelligence – why should this disability matter?

And in fact, it is that disability that I believe many of his critics can not, or will not, see past. I fear that people who should be allies have written him off simply because of the way his disability forces him to walk down the street. That’s a shame because who the hell cares how his physical disability manifests itself. Unless he is genuinely engaged in some type of misconduct or conduct that demonstrates that he can no longer perform legislative service, the only relevant question (a question for Chittenden voters) begins and ends with whether he is representing them to their majority satisfaction. So far, the answer has been an unqualified “yes.”

In any event, there is nothing here that justifies the prior reporting on Ed Flanagan that called his public service into question. Those articles earlier this year were based on the travails of his disabilities and bereft of examples demonstrating Mr. Flanagan was failing to do the job Chittenden County voters elected to do. Instead we read dismissive comments about his physical abilities.  

With that background, it is disappointing to read Totten’s comment “In light of these recent revelations, I wonder if Flanagan’s supporters will reconsider their blind faith in his ability to handle the rigors of public office without some additional supervision and support.”   Keep in mind, before today, neither Seven Days nor any other credible source gave an example of conduct or political judgment that called Mr. Flanagan’s ability to perform public service into question.  Indeed, even if the allegations published today turn out to be true, or turn out to contain elements of truth, that will in no way justify the prior suggestions that Mr. Flanagan’s disabilities, without more, negated his ability to represent Chittenden County.  

Also, in fairness to readers who are just tuning into this story, Seven Days’ lead source – Tiki Archambeau – was quoted saying “I don’t have any political reason for coming forward. . . I’m not out to bring the guy down”.  That may be true. It also might not be the whole story. Mr. Archambeau after all, when last we heard from him, was posting here on GMD claiming, among other things, that “[if you] were principled in the first place, you wouldn’t be a Dem.” Mr. Archambeau may not be out to bring down one particular Democrat, but he has no trouble implying to others that Democrats do not have principles.

Mr. Flanagan has denied the reports. Like many others, I am obliged to give him the benefit of the doubt, particularly given his tremendous record of service to the state. Despite my concerns, I remain hopeful that they aren’t true, and even more hopeful that – if they are true – he is able to get the support he needs to work through what will be a difficult time.

We have learned from Seven Days that serious allegations have been made about the behavior of Senator Ed Flanagan at the Burlington YMCA.

There are reportedly two witnesses, and if what they’re saying is true this seems like it may be another aspect of the tragedies that have befallen Ed in recent years as a result of two serious motor vehicle accidents.

He’s done a lot as a progressive Democrat, and especially as Auditor of Accounts, where he truly revolutionized the position. Nevertheless, we’ve learned over the years that trying to cover up or paper over serious personal problems, which has been the reflexive response of the Right, does not serve the interests of the progressive movement or the people. Coming on the heels of the earlier Seven Days article, which we thought was insufficiently sourced, it’s hard to escape the conclusion that his political career may be irretrievably damaged.

We hope his friends are giving him all the support and guidance he needs at this time.

How was Howard Dean’s first night as Keith Olbermann’s stand in on MSNBC? Here’s a sample. A little unsteady at times, but hey – it’s not like he had a warm-up gig as a local weatherman for a few years or something (don’t rustle the papers on your desk when the guest is talking, Governor). And ya can’t beat the content. Looking forward to Round 2 Wednesday.

In a new investigation from the China Labor Watch (CLW), “Wal-Mart’s Road to Sustainability: Paved with False Promises?”, the CLW reports on the Wal-Mart’s extreme exploitation of foreign factory workers – amongst many other egregious acts they’ve detailed.  

The CLW has found, as a result of investigations from April to June of this year, that violations at one of Wal-Mart’s suppliers, the Huasheng Packaging Factory, include:

• Elaborate system to cheat Wal-Mart audits.

• Some workers make only $0.51/hour, 60% of the minimum wage.

• Poor working conditions: workers inhale large amounts of paper particles and other debris.

• Twelve workers live together in cramped dorms

• Workers not paid overtime wages.

• During busy period, workday is 11 hours or 77 hours per week, and overtime is mandatory

Please help us by taking action and voicing your concern about Wal-Mart, and please continue reading for more from CLW’s press release.

This is merely the latest, and one of the most grievous, examples of Wal-Mart saying one thing and doing another, in their long running anti-labor track record.  Americans cannot continue to support the world’s largest retailer while it remains in support of some of the world’s worst labor standards.

CLW has also written a letter (pdf) to Wal-Mart CEO Mike Duke, and you can read their full report here (pdf).  

CLW also reports that recent violations at another facility, the Hantai Shoe Factory – who they began investigating in July of 2008, also include:

• Overtime only paid up to Wal-Mart’s limits. When overtime surpasses the limit, extra wages are not paid until the following month.

• Workers forced to lie to Wal-Mart inspectors.

• 5 hours overtime daily. If workers request not to work overtime once, they will be denied any overtime for a month.

• Disguised layoffs to avoid paying severance payments to workers. Workers are abused by management or switched to undesirable jobs until they quit voluntarily.

The CLW’s press release goes on to conclude:

“These issues represent only a portion of the problems CLW has discovered in these two factories. In nearly 10 years of investigating Wal-Mart’s Chinese supply chain, CLW has identified these same violations at the majority of Wal-Mart’s suppliers. In terms of labor violations, Hantai is one of Wal-Mart’s better factories and Huasheng is one of its worse, yet no where are Wal-Mart’s standards actually met.

The China-U.S. Economic and Strategic Dialogue, which opened in Washington today, will focus on economic, environmental and security cooperation. CLW calls on senior officials of both governments to encourage multinational companies to improve labor conditions in their supply chains and promote effective implementation of China ‘s Labor Contract Law.”

(thanks to Raw Story for the pointer)

“Bill Kristol just said … that the government can run a first-class health care system and a government-run health care system is better than the private health care system.”

“You trapped me somehow,” a visibly uncomfortable Kristol responded.

Follow this link for more . . .

Even with expectations lowered to an acceptable level,reality rears its ugly head. I now recognize that at the end of January the unfamiliar emotion I experienced was perhaps a species of optimism .Not unqualified optimism(can’t,wouldn’t admit to that)but a practical brand, “cautious optimism ” or maybe it was only the utter relief that eight years of the Bush regime had ended.Yes,that’s all it was.

That was six months ago and the papers today are not exactly a breading ground of hope.

Healthcare appears headed if not for failure at least to a severe watering down to the point of meaninglessness.

The health system overhaul largely rests on six senators who have tossed aside core Democratic priorities like a government-run plan

And this

As Senator Christopher Dodd of Connecticut assumes a central role in the debate over health care, the pharmaceutical industry has helped finance efforts to bolster his image back home as he braces for a potentially bruising re-election contest.

Big-time Wall Street banks have happily and with little new oversight taken up their high risk trading again.Goldman Sachs earlier was granted a change in official status by the feds that allows it access to Federal Reserve funds then ……

Goldman then applied to the Federal Reserve for an exemption to the rules, saying that it takes time to alter a business model. The exemption was granted in February — and Goldman went on to take even greater risks

Guantanamo is still sitting there almost as before.

The delays – involving those who cannot be tried – raise questions about whether the White House can close the prison by January, as President Obama pledged when he took office.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/…

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07…

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07…