Some extrordinary things are happening in the blogosphere. Far from simply being a place for the disaffected or dissatisfied to rant (or even just to organize), activists with experience, expertise and genuine passion are increasingly using the blogosphere to network, collaborate, and present substantive proposals on the issues of the day. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be trying to bring the most discussion worthy to light.

The cream of the crop is definitely the Energy Proposal put forth by several bloggers, with Jerome a Paris on point, by way of Daily Kos. I will reprint the executive summary here, and then provide a link to the complete, voluminous plan, for those interested enough to peruse it and comment on it here. It’s truly extraordinary.

Energize America – Achieving U.S. Energy Security by 2020 – Executive Summary

Objectives

To provide the U.S. with Energy Security by 2020 and Energy Independence by 2040 by: 1) reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 75%, 2) reducing oil imports by 50%, 3) generating 25% of electricity from renewable sources, and 4) creating or preserving over three million new jobs by 2020.

Description

America remains dangerously and increasingly addicted to fossil fuels, which directly threatens national security, economic stability and the overall quality of American life.  In addition to remaining critically dependent upon imported oil to meet transportation needs, America remains highly dependent upon domestic coal to meet its needs for electricity.  The rapidly growing use of both of these fossil fuels generates enormous amounts of GHGs, which become trapped in the earth’s atmosphere and contribute to global warming and its associated extreme weather events and sea level changes.

Interruptions to oil, gas or coal supplies by natural or man-made events can cause significant and prolonged economic pain and social turmoil with little or no warning.

America once led the world in both automotive and renewable energy engineering, but has seen this lead vanish to foreign competitors along with well over a million manufacturing jobs.

Energize America is a grassroots effort created and refined by informed citizen activists, and not by lobbyists or politicians.  As such, it takes an unvarnished and objective look at U.S. energy policy with the single goal of achieving U.S. energy security by 2020, defined as the ability to withstand a prolonged supply interruption, and U.S. energy independence by 2040, defined as energy self-sufficiency.

Energize America provides an ambitious but achievable 20-point plan to wean America from its fossil fuel addiction, to dramatically and responsibly reduce GHG emissions, to rebuild America’s manufacturing base, and to insulate the American economy from the effects of political turmoil, natural catastrophes and shrinking oil supplies worldwide. 

Energize America strongly favors a free market-based approach to solving our energy dilemma, though the plan is clearly guided by a strategic vision of a sustainable energy future and a public-private partnership model based on the highly-successful Apollo lunar program.

Energize America will leverage the incredible power and innovation of American industry to research, develop and commercialize energy efficiency technologies that will provide significant and continuous improvements to American consumers, and will help focus and unleash this creativity through clear and consistent policies and substantial long-term tax and regulatory incentives.

Energize America aims to create a level playing field for all energy providers, consumers and technologies.  For renewable energy sources, this will mean subsidizing the development and deployment of wind, solar, biomass and other solutions.  These investments will help these clean and local sources of energy compete more effectively with fossil fuels, which have benefited from decades of direct subsidies and other benefits.  Figure 2 below highlights one example of the historical disparity in federal financial support for nuclear and wind power – with nuclear power enjoying nearly 40 times the financial assistance of wind over an initial 15 year development period while delivering only slightly more gross electricity production.

Benefits

Energize America will transform American society – from the way we generate and use energy, to the way we design and drive vehicles, to the way we think about energy efficiency and conservation, to the way we deal with foreign governments.  In short, Energize America will create an energy-aware culture that treats energy as a strategic and vital economic resource, and which leads the world in the design and manufacture of renewable energy systems and energy efficient products.

Energize America will:

enable Americans to soon drive vehicles that are far safer, cleaner, and dramatically more fuel-efficient than today’s vehicles,

maximize energy efficiency in homes and businesses,

strengthen the U.S. industrial base,

ensure that the United States leads the world in the benefits of clean coal, in the design, manufacture and export of renewable energy systems, and in the reduction of GHGs, 

save taxpayers money by lowering the cost of operating federal, state and local governments,

save the US economy billions of dollars per year through reduced medical and other costs associated with global warming and pollution.

Most importantly, Energize America will ensure that all Americans can enjoy continued access to safe, reliable and affordable energy. 

In sum, Energize America will save Americans trillions of dollars in energy costs and reduce GHG emissions 75% by 2020, and make energy independence by 2040 attainable.

Benefit Examples

Homeowners – will save money from:
1)  highly energy efficient dwellings,
2)  an ability to directly control energy costs,
3)  greater energy provider choice, and
4)  the ability to generate some or all of their own electricity needs.

Businesses – will benefit from:
1)  energy-optimized buildings and factories,
2)  increased control over energy costs,
3)  greater ability to generate some or all of their energy needs, and
4)  access to new markets for energy-efficient products and services

US Automakers – will profit from:
1)  access to a ready market for ultra fuel efficient vehicles
2)  the creation and retention of over 1 million auto manufacturing jobs
3)  a rare opportunity to regain a competitive edge globally

Communities – will gain from:
1)  energy availability in the event of an unplanned, large-scale power failure
2)  energy solutions matched to local needs and resources
3)  new jobs from renewable energies, particularly for rural and remote communities
4)  enhanced ability to attract and retain new residents and businesses

Environment – will benefit from:
1)  stabilized GHG levels
2)  the protection of natural resources and designated ecosystems

Energize America will undoubtedly be attacked by special interests — namely the fossil fuel lobbies that will resist its aggressive migration to renewable energy sources.  In addition, those who do not agree that global warming poses a growing threat may challenge its GHG emissions goals.  Energize America will not please everyone, but it is designed with all Americans, and all future generations, in mind.  Following is a summary of Energize America’s position relative to existing energy sources.

Oil
Energize America is driven by the reality of ‘Peak Oil’, the fact our planet is reaching or has reached an irreversible period of shrinking oil production- which is compounded by rapidly growing demand worldwide.  Tar sands and other oil sources can provide some stop-gap relief from Peak Oil but cannot fully replace increasingly expensive and rare oil. Energize America aims to make the U.S. functionally free from imported oil by 2040 for national security, economic, and environmental reasons. 

Coal
America enjoys the largest coal reserves in the world, which is both a blessing and a curse.  Coal can meet our long-term needs for electricity and can also be liquefied into oil for transportation.  However, the mining of coal can be devastating to the environment if not done carefully, and the burning of coal can release significant amounts of GHGs into the atmosphere if not done responsibly. Energize America aims to minimize the environmental and GHG impact of coal use.

Nuclear
Nuclear power is experiencing a political resurgence of sorts, and several new plants are in various stages of planning.  However, the nuclear industry enjoys huge subsidies that shield the industry from nuclear disaster liability.  The nuclear industry and our government have also failed for decades to solve the nuclear waste problem.  These issues must be addressed before nuclear power is more widely used.

Investment

Energize America will require an investment of approximately $250 billion through 2020, or roughly $20 billion per year – a strategic investment that will provide substantial returns immediately and for generations to come.  Included in Act XX is a balanced funding strategy to achieve U.S. energy security. 

Energize America Acts

The following Acts are detailed in the full version of the plan (to be posted tomorrow):

I…….The Passenger Vehicle Fuel Efficiency Act (“500mpg cars”)
II……The Transportation Industry Efficiency Act (“Long Haul”)
III…..The Fleets Conversion Act (“Mass Transit”)
IV…..The Community-Based Energy Investment Act (“Neighborood Power”)
V……The Passenger Rail Restoration Act (“Bullet Trains”)
VI…..The Clean Coal Generation Act (“Clean Coal”)
VII….The Wind Energy Production Tax Credit Act (“Reap the Wind”)
VIII…The 20 Million Solar Roof Act (“Harness the Sun”)
IX…..The Renewable Portfolio Standards Act (“Fair Everywhere”)
X……The Federal Net Metering Act (“Get on the Grid”)
XI…..The State-Based Renewable Energy Investment Act (“Green States”)
XII….The New Energy Technology Demonstration Act (“Liquid Coal and Golden Glow”)
XIII…The Sustainable Energy Economic Prosperity Act (“Focused for Lasting Success”)
XIV…The Carbon Reduction Act (“Atmosphere Stability”)
XV….The Federal Energy Policy Enforcement Act (“People’s Energy Watchdog”)
XVI…The National Energy Efficiency & Conservation Act (“EnergySMART”)
XVII..The Home Efficiency Act (“C the Light”)
XVIII.The Demand Side Management Act (“Real Time Energy Pricing”)
XIX…The Telecommuter Assistance Act (“Work Smart”)
XX….The Energy Security Funding Act (“Paying the Piper”)

Interesting, yes?

For the complete plan, click here.

Even if the grassroots impeachment movement couldn’t inspire more than a handful of Vermont legislators, it does continue to inspire activism and hope across the rest of the nation, particularly among the younger set (the “holy grail” demographic, always targeted by political campaigns with never more than limited success). From the UCLA Daily Bruin:

Great state of Vermont, stand and be recognized! I have made fun of you before, but you have rushed to the rescue with the most important breakthrough in grassroots activism since the invention of Birkenstocks. Over the past couple months, various townships in Vermont have made national news by calling for the impeachment of Bush. However, such calls made only so much noise until, according to The American Prospect, a Rutland, Vt., man stumbled across an arcane, never-used provision – Section 603 – of a parliamentary manual written by Thomas Jefferson that forces the House of Representatives to consider impeachment proceedings submitted by a state legislature. The Rutland County Democratic Committee adopted the call for impeachment, which became known as the Rutland Resolution, as did several other cities in Vermont. Rep. Dave Zuckerman, P-Burlington, submitted the Rutland Resolution to the Vermont Legislature on April 26.

Other states have followed Vermont’s lead. Illinois Rep. Karen Yarbrough, D-Maywood, joined by two colleagues, has submitted a resolution under Section 603 to the Illinois General Assembly, and California Assemblyman Paul Koretz – who represents Westwood and much of West Los Angeles – has submitted his own resolution to the California Assembly, according to the Sacramento News & Review.

Details of Section 603’s authorship notwithstanding, the piece only gets better after the link…

Suddenly, town halls across the U.S. are holding impeachment hearings against the president of the United States. Petitions are circulating, urging the state legislatures with impeachment proposals to pass them. It has the potential to be the most triumphant volley from the poor little states across the bow of the big, bad federal government since Wyoming beat the Department of Commerce in checkers in 1962. However, let’s not get ahead of ourselves – once the House of Representatives receives any impeachment proposal from a state legislature, it will of course quash that proposal like a bug. But Section 604 of Jefferson’s manual states that the House must act on an impeachment proceeding before it deals with any other business. In other words, the House will be required to squash the impeachment proposal immediately and very publicly. So it would be a pretty big deal, as far as meaningless gestures go, but it would still be only a gesture.

Some, however, are against the gesture; they think it can only give ammunition to Republicans in the midterm elections. But I fail to see how this is possible; why would threatening to fire the boss give momentum to his management team? Since he won’t be impeached unless Democrats take back the House (and even then, probably not), submitting such articles of impeachment would merely be a pretty good indication to Bush and his posse that we Americans take sucking at your job pretty seriously when it’s the most important job in the world.

So there is something disaffected students can do, after all. Where once we were merely able to call Bush names or to suggest improper places where the president can “stick it,” we can now sign the online petitions urging Illinois and Vermont to pass their versions of Section 603.

And for those who do not reflexively dismiss what the “impeachment crowd” has accomplished (and continues to work for) in this state, but instead genuinely wonder why, Vermont Daily Briefing provides a succinct reminder:

* The President has the right to arrest American citizens, on American soil, and detain them without trial indefinitely. Theoretically, these individuals can then be moved to a secret island prison, a place declared a law-free zone by Government officials. There, they can be tortured, abused, or simply disappeared.

And if the secret island prison should prove, ironically, too public, these individuals can be spirited to a network of more secret prisons in Eastern Europe.

* The President can suspend any legislation Congress passes, at his own discretion.

* The President can order the NSA to suspend warrants for the collection and examination of telephone records, not in the case of a handful of suspects, but in broad groups of hundreds of millions of Americans.

* The President has proposed moving an active-duty General to head one of the most crucial civilian counter-balances to the military, the CIA.

* And finally, the Secretary of Defense can now deploy troops within US borders, and these troops will be slowly woven into the fabric of American life in peace time.

…and of course, Philip only scrapes the tip of the iceburg.

The damage being done to our nation and to real human lives is undeniable, and as such conscience and honor demand we do whatever is in our power within the constraints of ethics and law to speak out and fight back. As citizens, we only have so many means by which to be heard.

As Legislators, our elected Representatives have another very powerful means. We would hope that more than a handful would feel as we do; morally obliged to use the tools available to them to do what they can, rather than so readily play the role of Pontius Pilate.

In any event, the matter is gaining steam again as 603 proponents are expanding their working group and discussing formally incorporating to build support before the next legislative session. Details on that when (and if) it happens…

The snapshot poll of where GMD readers are in the Democratic primary of Lieuteneant Governor is over, and what a poll it was. Both campaigns obviously took it seriously and rallied supporters. The final results are:

Although Senator Dunne has earned bragging rights to victory here, realistically it was an absolute dead heat — especially considering the vagueries of internet polling. Still, there are three things the poll tells us:

1. These campaigns are both taking the webroots seriously.

2. Late start or no and despite what many outside observers have been thinking, John Tracy has a wideawake campaign base, so this primary will be a true contest, and…

3. The game’s afoot! Welcome to election season!

Stay tuned. We’ll be talking a lot about this race over the coming months (and of course, both candidates remain invited to post issue-focused diaries on GMS, as Sen. Dunne has been doing for a few weeks now). And no doubt we will run the poll again sometime…

1. Chittenden County Senator and former State Auditor Ed Flanagan is definitely on the mend (it was good to see you, Ed).

2. “Jefferson’s Manual,” state-based Presidential Impeachment is still very much a hot topic evoking strong expressions of support, as well as some cold immobile stares.

3. If the Democrat-supported candidates win for US House and US Senate, our Washington delegation will have approximately one full head of hair between them.

4. Award recipient and Rutland Resolution Author Jeff Taylor has been a “troublemaker” for the Party before — having successfully challenged the Delegate selection process as discriminatory back in the mid seventies.

5. Rich Tarrant has a firm handshake (no, I don’t know WHAT he was doing there or why I had to be the first person he bumped into coming into the gathering).

6. If possible, you should try to avoid direct sunlight from the hours of 10 AM to 2 PM.

7. At the end of the day, actual Party designation is meaningless — it’s the issues and values that really matter to all the folks who call themselves Dems (according to VDP Chair Ian Carleton in his introduction of Bernie Sanders… undoubtedly there were many in the room who disagreed, but they would’ve looked pretty petty not applauding…)

8. Virtually every Democrat over 60 apparently used to be a “Goldwater Republican” (or was that a “Rockefeller Republican?”)

9. Peter Welch seems to read this blog, as a statement he made in introducing Gaye Symington (“Good policy IS ALWAYS good politics”) would seem to be a pointed smackdown of this post from a few weeks ago that I caught hell for. Coulda been a coincidental turn of phrase, but then again it’s a small state.

10. Regardless of lingering frustration from the left over impeachment, healthcare and other issues, this party is really surprisingly strong and united (which I wasn’t necessarily expecting to see, but it did my heart good). It should be a good election season.

…and that these sorts of big, coat-‘n-tie fundraisers are really not for me anymore (okay, so that was eleven…)

Chuck Kletecka, the last member of the Vermont Human Rights Commission appointed by Howard Dean, quit in protest of the Governor’s veto of the Gender Identity non-discrimination bill. The Governor wouldn’t really offer a coherent reason for his veto, making it obvious that it was simply done in deference to the Center For American Cultural Renewal/Vermont Renewal and Vermont’s religious right. The now all-Douglas-sock puppet Human Rights Commission is apparently the front of respectability for this scary outfit that you can read more about at this linked diary.

There seems to be some dispute as to who first came up with the notion to initiate the impeachment process of a sitting President at a state legislature, via the Jefferson’s Manual. Well, wonder no more, as it looks like the idea was first broached by… the Republicans. That’s right, if they hadn’t had the Congress on their side against Clinton, there was discussion of using Section 603 of the JM all the way back in ’97. Sort of puts Republican complaints on the process into the “methinks thou dost protest too much” column, eh? It’s also another sign to Dems-in-denial that it’s a tool very much in the Republican arsenal that they are ready, willing, and able to use when a Dem returns to power. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.

If you haven’t seen it yet, go to Baruth’s piece about the clumsy mole sent by the Rainville campaign to tape record Peter Welch’s press conference. Get a load of the bumper stickers sported by this “stealth operative.” Heh.

Who needs Champ Anymore? iBrattleboro reports sightings of a wandering pack of naked men at 3 AM. It’s not the first report either, as another poster spotted them on bikes last October. A couple more sightings and maybe we can start mentioning it on Vermont tourist brochures.

Despite the rain, and competing events such as Bernie’s campaign kickoff and the Democratic Party fundraiser, 80 members of Vermont peace groups showed up to protest Laura Bush’s gala Republican event. Inside, the shindig may have raised as much as $150,000. Rainville: “I know that together we can send a Republican back to the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives.”

Darren Allen, Vermont’s print media-to-blogosphere crossover darling is back at the Times Argus/Rutland Herald’s Hall Monitor. He’s got some good stuff that I’ll be talking about later today (I think).

Speaking of the Times Argus and Rutland Herald, I’m getting really annoyed that they still haven’t fixed their article links. Grumble.

…and remember, the GMD Lt Gov poll stays up only as long is takes me to get up Sunday morning, square away the kids, and get an uninterrupted 10 minutes on this machine. Cast your vote! It’s become quite the cyber-slugfest.

Apparently the Vermont GOP and the Rainville Campaign are charging $5000 to have a picture taken with Laura Bush when she stops by to raise money for the General.

We at GMD know that $5000 is pretty steep — and we know a dose of market competition always does a body good! Therefore, thanks to the miracle of Photoshop, GMD is proud to announce that we’ll be happy to set you up with a picture of yourself and Laura for a mere $1000! (Wotta deal!) And you won’t even have to leave the comfort of your home! Just imagine…

…and if you act now, for a mere $200 more, we’ll also throw in another patriotic American of your choice! Click for an example —

Yes sir, with a deal like this how can you go wrong? Sure, Martha won’t get your money — but that’s okay! She’s got Tom DeLay’s and Duke Cunningham’s crowd for that!

Tell your friends… first twenty get a free cowboy hat…

Take a deep breath before you click on the link…

There’s no need to frame this (emphasis added):

Some of the most vituperative emails I have ever got came in after I made an offhand remark, in one of my monthly NRO diaries, to the effect that very few of us are physically appealing after our salad days, which in the case of women I pegged at ages 15-20. While the storm was raging, biologist Razib Khan over at Gene Expression (forget philosophers, theologians, and even novelists: the only people with interesting things to say about human nature nowadays are the scientists) decided to look up some actual numbers. Reasoning that a rapist is inspired to his passion mainly by the physical attractiveness of his victim, Razib went for rape statistics.

He found a 1992 report (Rape in America: A Report to the Nation) from the National Victim Center showing the age distribution of female rape victims. Sixty percent of the women who reported having been raped were aged 17 or less, divided about equally between women aged 11 to 17 (32 percent) and those under eleven (29 percent). Only six percent were older than 29. When a woman gets past her mid twenties, in fact, her probability of being raped drops off like a continental shelf. If you histogram the figures, you get a peak around ages 12-14… which is precisely the age Lolita was at the time of her affair with Humbert Humbert. As Razib noted, my own “15-20” estimate was slightly off. An upper limit of 24 would be more reasonable. The lower limit really doesn’t bear thinking about. (I have a 13-year-old daughter.)

Behind such sad numbers, and in the works of literary geniuses like Vladimir Nabokov, does the reality of human nature lie. It is all too much for our prim, sissified, feminized, swooning, emoting, mealy mouthed, litigation-whipped, “diversity”-terrorized, race-and-“gender”-panicked society. We shudder and turn away, or write an angry email. The America of 1958, with all its shortcomings, was saltier, wiser, closer to the flesh and the bone and the wet earth, less fearful of itself. (It was also, according to at least one scholarly study, happier.)

Ah, to return to those bygone days of 1958 when America was “happier.”

Just to be clear; Derbyshire cites statistics that show that most women who are raped are actually 12-14 year old girls. His conclusion? It’s because 12-14 year old girls are just so hot. In fact, since rape is all about how hot the target is, it sounds like it’s actually a compliment (does that mean it’d be downright ungentlemanly not to?).

If I were a cop that lived in the same town with this guy, I’d start interviewing every young girl he’s come into contact with — starting with his daughter. This guy’s trouble, and he’s proud of it.

We don’t do so much media critiquing around here, which is probably not a good thing. Of course we’re all familiar with the WCAX news bureau’s well-deserved reputation for being Vermont’s own little Fox News Channel, but if you want to see the most jaw-dropping, ranting, angry-to-the-point-of-delusional right-wing media source you will ever see anywhere in this nation, there’s no place like St. Johnsbury’s newspaper, the Caledonian Record. In fact, I have never seen another such newspaper anywhere (left or right leaning) that doesn’t even bother with the pretense of objectivity, referring to itself in it’s own editorial page as a ”Republican newspaper.”

By all means click on the link for the rest of the post. If you’re not familiar with this paper, you’re gonna love this…

The CBR never fails to live up to that description it wears so proudly, even when it has to twist itself into knots of self-parody to do so. You’ll recall the story from a few days back when Scudder Parker demanded action from the Douglas administration on the ever-growing domestic spying scandal:

I have asked my campaign staff to investigate whether the Bush administration’s warrantless spying activities, and the action of telecommunication companies involved in these disclosures, may have violated any Vermont laws, and if so, what actions have been taken to protect the rights of the citizens of this state”

The Douglas administration quickly (and wisely) attempted to innoculate itself:

Jason Gibbs, a spokesman for Gov. James Douglas, said the governor had ordered O’Brien to determine if Verizon’s actions violated Vermont law

So how does the CBR spin this?

We take this opportunity to applaud Vermont Republican Gov. James Douglas.

  To quote Jason Gibbs, a spokesman for Gov. Douglas: “The governor is certainly disturbed by this, and the Department of Public Service is going to take action if the rights of any Vermonters have been violated.”

And how many times is Scudder Parker mentioned in the editorial? That’s right – zero. That takes some serious kahunas right there, but that is nothing. This paper has a greatest hits that’s worthy of the Colbert Report.

Try the editorial entitled Al Gore: The Jane Fonda of the War on Terror, or maybe Dean’s Delerium (hint: he was talking about Iraq). Health Care? Check out their visciously deceptive op-ed entitled Jim Dandy To The Rescue.  The Abramoff scandal? Bet you didn’t know that there wasn’t a single Republican involved, but virtually every major Dem lawmaker seemed to be. Who knew? Bet you didn’t realize how ”many black leaders are race-baiters”. Don’t worry, the CBR from it’s perch in the Northeast Kingdom will separate the good blacks from the bad (read: liberals). After all, the Democrats are the “party that just loves to raise taxes in order to tuck another taxpayer-funded comforter around the body politic,” right?

Come on, admit it. At some point reading that list you started to chuckle. Just a little.

This is cold.

In response to the concerns expressed in Senator Matt Dunne’s diary immediately below, which stated:

In January, when federal wire tapping of Vermonters’ phone calls first came to light, I sent a letter co-signed by over 100 Vermont legislators to Lt. Governor Dubie asking to formally denounce government spying on our citizens.  The Lt. Governor never responded to the letter, in writing or to the press. The council has met since the letter was sent, but Chairman Dubie has yet to include it on an agenda.

The Lt. Governor should respond to every single Vermonter who takes time to write him a letter on important public matters.  To ignore a request from a majority of the Vermont legislature is indefensible.

Dubie bravely did his duty, firing off the following email to the two thirds of our Washington delegation he can bring himself to admit exist:

Dear Senator Leahy and Senator Jeffords,  I would to pass along the concerns of a number of Vermonters.  Very Respectfully, Brian Dubie

Man, that’s a big middle finger to Dunne and the other Legislators if I ever saw one. He didn’t even bother to check his grammar.

This guy doesn’t give a damn about the illegal excesses of his monarch-in-chief. He has got to go.

With the Legislature wrapped, it’s time to start looking forward to the elections. Of special interest to Vermont Dems is the primary contest between Rep. John Tracy of Burlington, and Sen. Matt Dunne of Windsor County. Both are well-known among primary voters, and both have impressive political resumes. Tracy has been in the House leadership for some time and most recently was the House point man on Health Care Reform. Dunne was in the House leadership ranks himself before a stint in Washington as Director of Americorps (he has also contributed a few diaries on Health Care and free speech to GMD). Both are competent and charismatic sorts who are virtually indistinguisable on policy matters (a brief search for legislative scorecards turned up the Vermont Alliance of Conservation Voters’ where each earned a 92% voting record in the most recent available scorecard, and likewise for VPIRG’s where they each show 100%). So how will voters decide? A week or so back, I made disparaging comments about voters who ignore policy and vote based on a snapshot “gut-check” reading of the candidates’ characters. Ironically, for voters who do follow policy (such as most primary voters), but are left with no clear way to differentiate on those terms, they too will fall back on the gut-check. On character. And in that regard, Dunne and Tracy are causing people to react in an entertainingly mirrored way…

First a reality check:

Dunne has been running a serious campaign since well into last year, while Tracy has barely gotten started. Why Tracy opted to let Dunne have the Democratic base all to himself for so long is anybody’s guess, but Dunne used the opportunity like a pro, focusing on Tracy’s own power base of Chittenden County. His endorsement list reads like a who’s who of Democratic leaders, with an overwhelming concentration in Burlington and the surrounding area. It’s hard not to give the advantage in Chittenden to Dunne with all the organizing he’s done — and if Dunne takes Chittenden and his own Windsor County, realistically the game is over.

So to have any chance, Tracy has to hope for some good fortune, and “hoping for good fortune” is the grimmest of campaign strategies. When you run a campaign, you want to control as many variables as possible and minimize the potential impact of fate. You want to run the game board and not have it run you — and trusting to fate is an implicit acknowledgement that you have no control of the board at all. Like I said, grim.

Still, there are the components for a Tracy surge. As a recent poll concerning other races suggests, voters may not have truly engaged with the campaigns yet. If that’s true, Tracy may enter the summer on more equal footing with Dunne than anyone expects.

Tracy could also benefit (if the timing is right) from what let’s call the “Kiss effect.” Progressive Bob Kiss entered the Burlington mayoral race very late — after most observers felt that Hinda Miller had it wrapped up. This helped to create a “perfect storm” of sorts for Miller — just as her honeymoon had worn off and voters were taking a closer, more critical look, Kiss’s honeymoon began. That created a surge which then built on itself as the underdog narrative spread. If the timing is right, Tracy could create a similar effect, but it’s a long shot (and it depends on whether or not Tracy ever gets serious about running a statewide campaign).

Still, if anyone has a chance at such an effect, it’s Tracy — simply because he is uniquely good on the stump, is highly charismatic, and has a compelling personal narrative — Vietnam combat vet, family man, plain talker who is more willing to put himself out there. There is no doubt that he scored some points in this way with some of the more activist base by showing up at the State Committee meeting where impeachment was discussed. Dunne avoided the meeting, as he has the entire discussion, as though it were radioactive. Tracy — while speaking against a ‘603’ resolution — had the nerve to show his face and speak up, and for that forthrightness he was recognized in many murmurs after the meeting.

All of this, though, simply lends more credence to the argument that people are going to cast their votes based on the perceived character of the candidates, and the way folks have already started making those judgements has an amusing polarity.

Dunne’s detractors like GMD user coronado tom who commented on one of Dunne’s Health Care posts, see him as overly ambitious — as being a relentless ladder climber:

While the Senator writes and positions himself, others are doing the real work on health care reform legislation in Montpelier…

…It’s no secret that this issue is one of the most important facing Vermont today. Good to know that at least some of our legislators are treating it that way — putting public service ahead of public relations and personal ambition.

While on the other side of the looking glass, Tracy’s detractors, such as Vermont Daily Briefing’s Philip Baruth, wonder why Tracy is bothering to compete when he seems to have so little ambition that he can’t even be troubled to run a campaign:

VDB has little patience with statewide candidates — especially Democratic statewide candidates — who insist upon not campaigning.

Why? Because we think it is an excellent way to lose.

So if you listen to their detractors, you’ve got your choice between Mister-too-ambitious and Mister-no-ambition… which again, will mean it’s voter “gut check” time. [I’m sure I’ll make endorsement here myself someday, but it’s gonna be a while. It’s tough — I know both these guys and I like both of them. I’ll have no problem voting for whoever comes out on top come November.]

The one piece of advice I’d give to both campaigns: recognize that it’s character — your personal story that’s going to draw votes to you. Drilling down to the level of policy nuance that seperates you will put people to sleep. Leadership. Your story. Vision. — and of course a campaign viable enough to communicate these things to voters. Given that last one, it’s still advantage-Dunne (overwhelmingly so)…

…but you never know.