(Good stuff from Matthew. Wish I’d written it. – promoted by odum)

Before I begin, I feel like I should put a disclaimer out.  I don’t often expect much from the opinion page of the Burlington Free Press, but I think most of us agree that it hasn’t been too rough on our side of debate this year.  But after reading executive editor Mike Townsend’s “Commentary Lite” piece in the paper today, I was a bit baffled.  If it was all just simply an engaging piece of self-satire aimed at the lack of depth seen in their own coverage of the July 15th filing reports and their implications in the race, then my hat is off to them.  Unfortunately, it appears that isn’t the case, and the rest of the editorial board must have taken the day off for this one to have seen the printing press.

If you have not clicked on the link yet, and read for yourself, it is probably worth doing so.  Among other things, the article touches on Democrats stifling Progressives, economists at Vermont Tiger, and Democrats needing to become more like Republicans.  In all situations, it falls flat on its face.  So I figured I would tackle the questions, and maybe we could have a Q&A of our own.

Why has the election for governor already begun? Didn’t we just have an election?

It has begun because this is the window of time that a modern political campaign needs to get going.  All across the country there are gubernatorial candidates filing to run.  The difference is that the Vermont Constitution gives the governor only a two-year term.  While we can have the debate as to whether the short-term is a positive thing, it certainly congests the election calendar.

Why are Democrats pushing the election campaign up so early?

Because they want to win, and were frankly embarrassed with how late the Symington campaign began.  It takes time to connect with every part of the state, and that is why the framework is being laid now.



So this is the answer? Starting the election a year and a half before we vote and disrupt my Sunday dinner with phone calls and door-knockers?

If that is their strategy, then they are not running a smart campaign at this point.  Though there are no guarantees as to whether Jim gets nervous and you get called for a poll.

Will the Progressives permit the Democrats so rudely to relegate them to the dustbin of obscurity?

Now here’s one that’s not happening anywhere.  Democrats know they’ll need Progressive voters to unseat Douglas, it’s a no-brainer.  So if courting them and ignoring them are now the same, then yes, it is occurring.  Given that the Racine camp is already reaching out to Progressives, I would guess that they will receive plenty of attention, particularly during the primary.

What can they possibly do about the issues 17 months before the election?

No one is on the stump.  They are fundraising.



Oh, Democrats are going to make campaign finance reform an issue again?

No.  I doubt it shows up on any candidates radar.



With the potential of a big Democratic field, will they be able to work together to defeat Jim Douglas?

No one knows at this point.  There certainly is potential for them to, but candidates haven’t really had to make their pitches against each other yet.  With the Tom Salmon Show still in operation however, surely there will be some level of conflict.

Next is a section about “money”, where Jim does take a few hits, VT Tiger is invoked, all sorts of odd stuff goes on.  It eventually finishes with the notion that Democrats are going to have to become more like Republicans, which is foolish given the state’s partisan make-up, the struggles tied to the incumbent, and the way the public has reacted to the past legislative session.

Finally, the seminal question…

How will this affect me?

For the average Vermonter, it won’t.  You’re not going to see TV ads.  You’re unlikely to get called for a long while.  You probably won’t even see people on the side of the road asking you to honk your horn.  Most likely, you’ll just decide when you get in the booth on election day, if you choose to show up.  But candidates raising early money won’t become an emotional burden for the average Vermonter.

( – promoted by odum)

Hadn’t seen it up here yet, so I thought I might as well:

It looks like Jim’s ready for another go-around.

It was hardly a full-throated announcement, but on VPR this morning Governor Douglas made it clear that he intends to seek re-election.  

I also found it interesting that the WCAX article mentions Shumlin in the same breath as Markowitz in terms of potential candidates; given how much more we’ve heard from Markowitz then Shumlin.

A

( – promoted by odum)

The Burlington Free Press ran this May 30th.

http://www.burlingtonfreepress…

Governor, Why Sink Our Schools?

Governor Douglas,

When your budget proposal was released, there was a lot in it for Vermonters to shake their heads about.  While I find the cuts to our social programs devastating, there are people more qualified to talk on those issues.  But as a high school student, I think I have a thing or two to say about your proposal to thoroughly gut our state’s education system.

Governor, the budget you’ve offered is not only a direct affront to Vermont students, but it’s an insult to school board members and town meeting attendees all across Vermont.  It takes a remarkable lack of responsibility to level-fund all education spending and then shift a wealth of expenses into the Education Fund, all in the name of “fiscal responsibility”.

Level funding is a brash way of pushing school boards up against a rail, and forcing them to make cuts.  There are expenses that rise over time; everyone knows this.  And so by offering this proposal, you force towns to make painful cuts, on top of the ones they’ve already made.  Passionate, young educators with tremendous talent are forced out of our classrooms and into the ranks of the unemployed.  Essential arts programs wind up torn apart.  The result is simple: students lose.  I lose, Governor, and my classmates lose.  In a world of increased competition, you’d like the state to abandon its students, leaving us to fend for ourselves. Meanwhile, competing countries around the world are preparing their next generation for the global economy.  Unless a family is wealthy enough to send its children off to private school, it looks like we’re out of luck with you.

Unfortunately, my family doesn’t make the kind of money where that’s a viable option, Governor.  These are uncertain times for all of us.  And in these times, when so many Vermont families are struggling to get by, what have you chosen to do?  You’ve offered a proposal that will dramatically increase the property tax burden on Vermonters.  According to Appropriations Chairs Sen. Susan Bartlett and Rep. Martha Heath, “the actual impact on individual Vermont families could be as high as $8,000 dollars.”  Surely, Governor, you are not so out of touch as to believe that there are any middle-income families who could afford that incredible spike.

But this proposal does not just hit Vermonters in their wallets, it insults those who adhere to the simple principles of federalism, and believe that schools should be under local control.  You’ve tied the hands of school boards all across the state.  These are community members who have invested a great deal of time to put forth budgets that both satisfy the taxpayers and offer my classmates a strong education.  In some unfortunate cases, positions have to be cut.  But across the state, school boards have done what they believed to be best for their community.  Your proposal takes away local control and attempts to consolidate more power under your office.  Apparently, your administration does not believe Vermonters are responsible enough to make decisions for themselves.

Governor, if you knew what was really going on in schools, you’d know that they are not the bloated behemoths you’ve tastelessly attempted to paint them as.  You’d know they are full of hardworking Vermonters, young and old.  You’d know they should be a source of pride for this state, not an area to attack.  The Legislature has given us a reasonable budget; it is not perfect, but at least it is responsible.  I hope, for the sake of all students, that you think twice before shutting us out in the cold.

Hopping in late, but need a place to get my thoughts down

6:26 – Everyone’s gone out strong to start, Rev. Roland Smith was the first to really take the bigotry to the next level.  The con side has decided to put all the religious community out first.

6:28 – For the record, Senator Sears changed the speaking limit from three minutes to two, so a lot of people are racing through.  Currently the crowd is getting another lecture.  We’re only four con speakers in, and already we now are all aware of how the world began.

6:39 – A man says that if a homosexual couple breaks up, will they go after our children.  Whole room boos.

“No[t] sure what was more offensive: Saying gay men were pedophiles or that they would rape others if they got divorced.” – Beck Holt, BFP

6:50 – The one striking thing about the debate so far has been the two approaches the sides have taken.  The pro-marriage crowd has done an excellent job of smiling, joking, and presenting a highly diverse front.  The opposition on the other hand, has been a bunch of old people or reverends, reminding us either how the world began, or to get off their lawn.

7:08 – Was waiting for something new to kind of develop, but we’ve been in basically a holding pattern for the past 20 minutes.  A lot of angry people complaining about things we’ve already legally allowed.  A lot of happy faces providing their unique reasons for supporting the legislation.

7:37 – A lot of screams on the con side of the aisle this evening, not the best way to present…

7:54 – The debate has settled quite a great deal, with speakers much more composed and level headed.  I’ve been waiting all night to hear the argument from the opposition that moves past just a religious barrier.  Still nowhere to be seen.

With H.R. 1310 introduced into Congress, our friend Peter is absent from the co-sponsors list.  I’m a bit surprised to see Welch shy away from this one, given that most of the Progressive Caucus is aboard already, and a number of Democrats in tough districts, specifically for this issue, have had the courage to sign on.  When it was introduced in the 109th Congress, then-Rep. Sanders was all aboard as well.

H.R. 1310 would restrict the ability the ability to drop waste into valley streams.  Without the valley streams to pollute, the process of mountain top removal can’t wreck havoc our on our environment.  It’s a small step in fighting off the environmentally dangerous effects of coal, but an incredibly important one as well.

This shouldn’t be a far reach for our representative, but here’s the list of co-sponsors:

Rep. Timothy Ryan [D-OH]

Rep. Edward Markey [D-MA]

Rep. Fortney Stark [D-CA]

Rep. Bob Filner [D-CA]

Rep. Mark Kirk [R-IL]

Rep. Timothy Bishop [D-NY]

Rep. André Carson [D-IN]

Del. Donna Christensen [D-VI]

Rep. James Langevin [D-RI]

Rep. Nydia Velázquez [D-NY]

Rep. Bradley Miller [D-NC]

Rep. Robert Andrews [D-NJ]

Rep. Loretta Sanchez [D-CA]

Rep. Corrine Brown [D-FL]

Rep. Dennis Kucinich [D-OH]

Rep. Ben Chandler [D-KY]

Rep. Jerrold Nadler [D-NY]

Rep. Gerald Connolly [D-VA]

Rep. Neil Abercrombie [D-HI]

Rep. Rosa DeLauro [D-CT]

Rep. Donna Edwards [D-MD]

Rep. John Yarmuth [D-KY]

Rep. Kendrick Meek [D-FL]

Rep. James McGovern [D-MA]

Rep. John Tierney [D-MA]

Rep. Jared Polis [D-CO]

Rep. Betty McCollum [D-MN]

Rep. Jane Harman [D-CA]

Rep. John Conyers [D-MI]

Rep. Lynn Woolsey [D-CA]

Rep. Raul Grijalva [D-AZ]

Rep. Steven Rothman [D-NJ]

Rep. Barbara Lee [D-CA]

Rep. Chellie Pingree [D-ME]

Rep. Barney Frank [D-MA]

Rep. Tammy Baldwin [D-WI]

Rep. John Hall [D-NY]

Rep. William Delahunt [D-MA]

Rep. Dave Reichert [R-WA]

Rep. Anthony Weiner [D-NY]

Rep. Carolyn Maloney [D-NY]

Rep. Maurice Hinchey [D-NY]

Rep. James Himes [D-CT]

Rep. Heath Shuler [D-NC]

Rep. Louise Slaughter [D-NY]

Rep. Christopher Smith [R-NJ]

Rep. Joe Sestak [D-PA]

Rep. Eliot Engel [D-NY]

Rep. Bobby Rush [D-IL]

Rep. Carolyn Kilpatrick [D-MI]

Rep. Janice Schakowsky [D-IL]

Rep. Charles Rangel [D-NY]

Rep. José Serrano [D-NY]

Del. Eleanor Norton [D-DC]

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz [D-FL]

Rep. Robert Wexler [D-FL]

Rep. Sam Farr [D-CA]

Rep. Alcee Hastings [D-FL]

Rep. William Clay [D-MO]

Rep. Russ Carnahan [D-MO]

Rep. Mazie Hirono [D-HI]

Rep. Jim Cooper [D-TN]

Rep. Allyson Schwartz [D-PA]

Rep. Keith Ellison [D-MN]

Rep. Jay Inslee [D-WA]

Rep. Michael Capuano [D-MA]

Rep. Christopher Van Hollen [D-MD]

Rep. Niki Tsongas [D-MA]

Rep. Adam Smith [D-WA]

Rep. Steve Cohen [D-TN]

Rep. Albio Sires [D-NJ]

Rep. Danny Davis [D-IL]

Rep. Adam Schiff [D-CA]

Rep. David Price [D-NC]

Rep. Brad Sherman [D-CA]

Rep. Betty Sutton [D-OH]

Rep. Anna Eshoo [D-CA]

Rep. John Sarbanes [D-MD]

Rep. Richard Neal [D-MA]

Rep. Michael Honda [D-CA]

Rep. Gary Ackerman [D-NY]

Rep. Diane Watson [D-CA]

Rep. Brian Higgins [D-NY]

Rep. Paul Hodes [D-NH]

Rep. James Moran [D-VA]

Rep. Susan Davis [D-CA]

Rep. Elijah Cummings [D-MD]

Rep. Earl Blumenauer [D-OR]

Rep. Jerry McNerney [D-CA]

Rep. Edolphus Towns [D-NY]

Rep. John Lewis [D-GA]

Rep. John McHugh [R-NY]

Rep. Carol Shea-Porter [D-NH]

Rep. Diana DeGette [D-CO]

Rep. Patrick Kennedy [D-RI]

Rep. Ellen Tauscher [D-CA]

Rep. Rush Holt [D-NJ]

Rep. Sander Levin [D-MI]

Rep. Howard Berman [D-CA]

Rep. John Olver [D-MA]

Rep. Bruce Braley [D-IA]

Rep. Dale Kildee [D-MI]

Rep. James McDermott [D-WA]

Rep. Luis Gutiérrez [D-IL]

Rep. Lois Capps [D-CA]

Rep. David Wu [D-OR]

Rep. Christopher Murphy [D-CT]

Rep. Henry Waxman [D-CA]

Rep. Todd Platts [R-PA]

Rep. Donald Payne [D-NJ]

Rep. Peter DeFazio [D-OR]

Rep. Frank Wolf [R-VA]

Rep. Emanuel Cleaver [D-MO]

Rep. William Pascrell [D-NJ]

Rep. Zoe Lofgren [D-CA]

Rep. George Miller [D-CA]

Rep. Patrick Murphy [D-PA]

So where are you, Peter?

( – promoted by odum)

…using the Obama listserv to scout out supporters.

This was an email sent out by Jason Powell to UVM Students for Obama & Vermonters for Obama:

——————–

Hello UVM for Obama!

Some of you may remember me from the campaign, my name is Jason Powell and I’m contacting you with what I personally think is some exciting news: A great Democrat for Governor in Vermont in 2010 – Secretary of State Deb Markowitz www.debforvermont.com.

For over 10 years as Secretary of State, Deb has been running her office with a sense of accountability and responsibility that has served Vermont well (and reminds me a bit of the way our President operates). This is just part of the reason why I’m proudly supporting her, and helping to organize her exploratory campaign for Governor.

We all helped accomplish a tremendous national victory this past November. However, there is still much to accomplish at the state and local level here in Vermont. Please take a minute to visit Deb’s website at www.debforvermont.com, learn a little about who she is (if you don’t know already!), and sign-up to be a part of this growing organization. As we all saw in 2008, change begins at the local level – so let’s get started now!

Oh, and one more thing – you can email Deb directly with advice or support through her website, or at debmarkowitz@gmail.com

Thanks for your time. I hope we can work together again.

Best,

Jason Powell

———————————–

While it excites me to see Democrats organizing early, using other candidates listserv’s for your own work has always bothered me.  But maybe that’s just a pet peeve of mine.