Jack “Six Teats” McMullen, who awoke from a lengthy nap and realized that he’d an exploitable issue handed to him on a silver platter: the accusations of improper collusion between Attorney General Bill Sorrell and a Super PAC organized by the Democratic Attorneys General Association.

I say “lengthy nap” because McMullen’s call for an investigation came a mere three weeks after VTGOP Chair “Angry Jack” Lindley first requested in investigation. I’m not saying it would have made any difference in the race, but McMullen could have gotten a lot more mileage out of the issue if he’d jumped on the bandwagon earlier.

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Deputy Auditor Joe Juhasz and outgoing Auditor Tom Salmon*, for a stunning act of political tone-deafness. Juhasz is overseeing a probe into Treasurer Beth Pearce, which was demanded by Pearce challenger Wendy Wilton. Well, the Vermont Press Bureau reports that Juhasz is a longtime Republican who has donated to the Wilton campaign. The VPB says  “he’s unconcerned about even the appearance of a conflict of interest as he investigates Wilton’s claims,” and added that Salmon knows of his support for Wilton.

*Before you read on, take a moment to savor that phrase. “Outgoing Auditor Tom Salmon.” Mmmm. I like the way it rolls off the tongue: “Outgoing Auditor Tom Salmon.” Yes. Me likey.

Even if you give Juhasz the benefit of the doubt, it’s difficult to see how this doesn’t, at the very least, create the appearance of a conflict of interest.

After the jump: A surprising Thumbs Up, our first-ever Thumbs Sideways, and an utterly predictable Poke in the Eye.

The Vermont Sierra Club, for trying to have it both ways on its Attorney General endorsement.  The Sierra Club endorsed all the Democratic candidates for statewide office, but in the AG’s race, the Club endorsed both Democrat Bill Sorrell and Progressive Ed Stanak.

Profiles in courage.

At least they managed to exclude “Six Teats” from their list. But after careful consideration, I can’t decide whether they deserve a “Thumbs Up” for inclusiveness or a “Thumbs Down” for indecision, so I give them a rare and coveted Thumbs Sideways.

Our first!

Capital City nitpicking. Pardon my injecting a local issue into a state politics blog, but one thing that drives me nuts about living in Montpelier is its overweening self-regard and its focus on minutiae at the expense of the big picture. Last week’s case in point: the brouhaha over a proposal to mount signage on City Hall. The only sign on City Hall is actually for Lost Nation Theater, which occupies the third floor. This is confusing to visitors and new residents; it certainly confused me when I moved into town. The proposed lettering is well-conceived and reasonable; it would not significantly alter the building’s stature or character.

A number of ridiculous things have been said by opponents, but the most ridiculous came from architect and Design Review Board member Jay Smith, who equated City Hall with the Statehouse. Sorry, Jay; City Hall is a nice building, but the Statehouse is in a class all by itself. It doesn’t need a sign. City Hall does.

The Vermont Chamber of Commerce, for creating a new health-care plan for small businesses. I don’t know enough about Chamber Preferred to endorse it, but I salute the VCoC for trying to provide solutions instead of simply attacking liberal efforts at health care reform.

The national Chamber, under the leadership of Thomas Donohue, has become an attack dog for business interests and the far right; the Vermont Chamber seems to be sticking to its roots, as a positive voice for business in our political life.

Misuse of the BIll of Rights. Two instances. First, Virginia pastor Kenneth Miller is seeking to quash a subpoena requiring him to testify in a grand jury probe of the LIsa Miller/Janet Jenkins custody case. Henneth Miller had earlier agreed to testify, but now his attorney claims that his client’s right against self-incrimination would be violated. Small problem: Prosecutors have offered Rev. Miller immunity for anything he says to the grand jury.

And second, attorney Mitchell Pearl‘s contention that Vermont’s vaccine exemption form is a violation of the First Amendment. Anti-vaccine parents won their fight in the Legislature last year, beating back an effort to end or limit the philosophical exemption to child vaccination. Now, they oppose the wording of the Health Department’s opt-out form. The claim is that the form amounts to coerced speech. To which I reply, Oh, get over yourselves. Sign the form. It goes in a file. Nobody ever sees it again. Your overweening tetchiness does your cause no favors.

Governors Bobby Jindal of Louisiana and Chris Christie of New Jersey, nominated to be the next two heads of the Republican Governors Association. (Jindal in 2013, Christie in 2014.) It’s widely believed that their Democratic counterpart will be our very own Peter Shumlin.

I do hope Jindal and Christie can bear up under the imminent criticism from VTGOP Chair “Angry Jack” Lindley that their RGA service will turn them into part-time governors. After all, Angry Jack made a big deal about Shumlin possibly heading the DGA. And fair’s fair. Right, Jack?

Political opportunism, Republican-style. Last week, US Senate hopeful… er, what’s the opposite of “hopeful?” … US Senate hopeless John MacGovern held a big news conference to announce his opposition to the basing of F-35s at the Burlington airport. Yeah, a conservative Republican tries to run left of Bernie Sanders. That’ll work.

Just like Randy Brock and Phil Scott coming out for a wind-power moratorium. They might possibly get a few anti-wind single-issue voters (and split Annette Smith’s vote! Shame!), but it’s hard to imagine that the vast majority of environmentally-minded voters will suddenly see the Republicans as the new Green Party.  

The reclusive Lenore Broughton, who apparently thinks a camera can steal her soul. How else to explain her panicked retreat when confronted with a polite cameraman from Seven Days at a meeting of the Burlington Telecom Cable Advisory Council? As far as can be ascertained, there is not a single photo of Broughton anywhere in the public domain. (Although her son is a photographer who specializes in portraits. Hmm… wonder if he’s ever done dear old Mom?)

I realize she’s not an actual candidate for office. But she has injected herself and her bankroll into Vermont’s political system to an unprecedented degree. That qualifies her for some public scrutiny. Heck, there might even be a bunch of less considerate photographers in the audience at the next Cable Advisory Council meeting.

And since, for the time being, we can’t bring you a photo of Broughton, we present for your edification and entertainment this image of that great Golden Age actress, Margaret Hamilton.  

We feel no compunction at giving the occasional poke to the Burlington Free Press when we think it's deserved, but there's no question that they still have the ability to commit journalism. In fact, although there are some adjustment issues in dealing with their new format, my sense is that it has given them the ability to do longer, more investigative reporting, and this is an important benefit.

If you missed the paper over the weekend you should go back and read this story about “excited delirium syndrome”,  the made-up malady that police use to evade responsibility when they kill people with Tasers or other action.

Actually, the story doesn't come down on whether excited delirium syndrom is made up, but the conclusion is pretty hard to miss.

For instance, it seems to be pretty hard to find someone who's not on the payroll of Taser International who even believes this condition exists. In fact, the expert that Taser pays to do these studies admits that  “It’s not easy . . . to diagnose excited delirium in arrest-related deaths. ” Apparently getting paid by Taser to find it and to lobby for excited delirium findings in Taser-related deaths makes it a little easier.

 As I say, it's worth reading the entire story.

Also, congratulations to Matt Ryan and the Burlington Free Press for their coverage. 

Okay, so yesterday I posted some ideas for new, improved webvertisements for Vermonters First. Because their current offerings just aren’t excessive enough.

Well, I had so much fun fooling around on Photobucket that I decided to make up a few for OUR side. All on science-ficiton themes, in tribute to Our Founder. So, without further ado…

Charlton Heston I: Oppressed Republicans in Chains:

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More after the jump! Charlton Heston II, Lex Luthor, and Our Rightful Overlord.

Charlton Heston II: The Republicans’ secret plan exposed!

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And now, a public service message from Roger Ail — I mean, Karl Rov — no, wait, it’s Emperor Palpatine. I always get those guys confused. He’s got a message for working-class Rush Limbaugh listeners.

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Finally, a powerful message from a true alternative candidate.

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Thanks for indulging me. Back to Vermont political commentary next time!

I don’t know how many folks caught “free market” water boy, Art Woolf’s set up in Thursday’s Free Press, but I can guarantee you’ll hear it quoted soon as source material for more GOP whining about how Vermont is “bad for business.”

The article, entitled “Where Have All the Babies Gone?” focusses on the declining birthrate in Vermont since just prior to the “official” start of the recession in 2007.  It notes only parenthetically that the birthrate in the U.S. as a whole has declined over the same period; and it provides a Vermont-only bar chart illustrating the decline since 1990.

Look for this chart and the accompanying statistics, minus the parenthetical qualifier, to be frequently quoted as evidence that Vermont’s regulatory environment under a Democratic majority is causing young people to flee the state at an alarming and unnatural rate.  

Mr. Woolf reports that there has been a decline in the Vermont birthrate since 2007 of 7%;  however, when compared to the national decline in birthrate of 12% for the same period, this is little more than half of that figure.

Just as alarm over the “aging” of the Vermont population is a canard invented by Republicans to have something to cluck about; so also will be the “baby drain” meme.  

The reality is that, by most economic indicators, Vermont has survived the recession better than the majority of other states; and despite its overwhelming Democratic majority, the state seems to have a pretty good formula for offsetting a harsh climate with a social and environmental mystique that still attracts people to settle here.  

In fact, if there is such a great concern among Republicans for the declining birthrate in Vermont, or the loss of younger workers, perhaps they should be advocating for more relaxed immigration policies, favoring Mexican and Latin American families who statistically represent the American sectors where population growth continues to be higher.

Oh, no…’guess not.  That would just broaden support for Democratic candidates.  

During the ’08 election McCain & his crazy train succeeeded in scaring the bejezus out of me. I was astonished that a clueless hick like Palin

especially with all of the baggage she carried could make it that far. Gidget a banana peel away fom the highest office in the land? Do the operatives have a brain in their collective head? No!

For the first time in my life I sent campaign donations & took to the online battlefront.

I became unimpressed with Obama during his presidency & actually supported Paul.

Then came the lackluster roster of weirdos in the primary. Aaahhh! Then Romney emerges as the heir apparent. Nooo! He really really scares the bejezus out of me.

I ran back to Obama. He’s the only game in town, the only adult in the room & the only sane voice crying in the wilderness of insanity. Everyone I know is freaking over Romney-Ryan regime.

Anyone see this? A timely warning:

( – promoted by Jack McCullough)

Rep. Peter Welch’s name appears on a list of 26 Congresspeople who have taken part in the No H8 Campaign by sitting for photos in a session in September. The project is in support of equality, specifically for lgbt community members. Ten Representatives (no Senators have taken part as yet, although Bernie Sanders reportedly expressed an interest) participated in a previous session last February.

His photo is number 14 in the slide show here.

And here’s what he had to say for the occasion:

“We’re all the same. This campaign reminds us that we have much more in common and that we ought to embrace diversity and love one another.”

Well done, Peter! This would be a really great image for inclusion on your campaign or Congressional web page, don’t you think?

Florida* Congresswoman and DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz also took part in the No H8 on the Hill Campaign session.

Republicans were invited, none responded.

[*Correction: As originally posted this story identified Debbie Wasserman Schultz as a representative from California.]

Cross posted at Rational Resistance.

As we remember George McGovern, I am struck by a quote from his book What It Means To Be a Democrat.

As quoted in the Times, McGovern says: 

 “We are the party that believes we can’t let the strong kick aside the weak,” Mr. McGovern wrote. “Our party believes that poor children should be as well educated as those from wealthy families. We believe that everyone should pay their fair share of taxes and that everyone should have access to health care.”

With the country burdened economically, he added, there has “never been a more critical time in our nation’s history” to rely on those principles.

  There is no question among the writers and readers here that the Democratic Party does not always live up to its ideals. There are some who seem to take particular pleasure in pointing out our shortcomings, while ignoring those of the Republicans. Nevertheless, the reason the Democratic Party can be challenged for failing to live up to its ideals is that the Democratic Party has ideals. When our party disappoints us it is because we know it's capable of more than it sometimes achieves.

When we work here for more and better Democrats George McGovern is the kind of Democrat I, for one, am thinking about.

When Franklin County senate candidates participated in a forum in Sheldon this past week, one of the questions they fielded concerned GMO labeling.

The candidates’ responses were especially telling.  Most seemed to think it was none of their business; a matter for the feds.

Libertarian Peter Moss characteristically said he “eats for enjoyment” and has no opinion on GMO’s.

Independent Judith McLaughlin was content to dismiss it as a federal fight.

Democrat Don Collins admits he didn’t “follow that piece of legislation” but is generally disinclined to “go out and make more work for people and hope it has an impact.”  Hmm…

Republican Norm McAllister, as the only House Ag Committee member to vote against H.722, a bill that would require labeling of all GMO content in dietary products, claims the disclosure requirement could harm small business in Vermont and recommends that anyone who objects to GMO’s simply eat nothing but organic foods(!); which, of course, is so easy for low income  Vermonters to do.  

Somehow, his position doesn’t sound so much like a benefit to small business as discrimination against poorer folks who would just like to know what they are eating.

Dustin Degree at least seems to have given the matter some small consideration, remarking that “no hard studies showing health impacts of GMO’s were presented” in connection with the introduction of H-722.  Of course he neglects to mention that none were presented because none are available, owing to the tremendous power of the chemical industry which has successfully suppressed any efforts at meaningful study.

Mr. Degree opts for inaction, repeating a tired old favorite argument of the GOP against most attempts at statewide regulation of almost anything: that GMO labeling would violate the Interstate Commerce clause, (which he refers to as the “interstate trade compact of the federal constitution.”)

Of the candidates, only Caroline Bright has recognized the significance of GMO’s to a profoundly agricultural state like Vermont; and only she has had the initiative to gain more than a glancing knowledge of the complex issues involved.

Immediately apparent to almost anyone who has even a superficial understanding of the plant “inventions” that GMO’s represent, is their largely untested impact over time on the health of the consumer.  It is this understanding alone that accounts for the fact that the vast majority of Vermonters, together with much of the developed world, favor GMO labeling rules.

“For me, the issue is really straightforward.  I think people have a right to know what is in their food” said Bright, “This whole discussion is really an issue of moving consumer protection into the 21st century.

Apart from this obvious concern, Ms. Bright has learned about the potential for calamity in a food system that becomes dependent entirely on monocultures, such as those being enforced in the U.S. and Canada by chemical giants like Monsanto, who now not only control the most abundantly grown and distributed crops in North America, but also the pesticides on which their success is dependent; and, she knows that, through an arcane and extremely litigious enforcement process, Monsanto has bound much of the American farming industry to its service.

So, this is entirely a federal matter and should be of no concern to Franklin County, the “bread-basket” of Vermont? Really?

In the coming decades, most experts agree that food crops will be the big economic driver as dietary demands of a global market continue to grow, and as arable land comes into even shorter supply.  To abdicate responsibility for GMO labeling to some distant federal process is not only cowardly and short-sighted, but it risks damage to the Vermont “brand” which has come to mean something in many parts of the world where GMO labeling is already an accepted practice.

Not to realize this represents stunning ignorance with regard to Vermont’s number one asset: its global brand.

If you spend any time at all on certain Vermont news websites, you’ve seen the latest offerings from our buddies at Vermonters First, the conservative, secretive Super PAC funded by the Howard Hughes of Vermont politics, Lenore “Cameras Will Steal My Soul” Broughton.

VF’s first round of web ads was a graphical freakshow, with clashing colors, a myriad of type fonts, and, most famously, the illegal use of the State Seal.

Well, VF ordered up a new round of web ads from its out-of-state consultants. And while they aren’t quite as awful as its first round, they’re pretty damn obnoxious nonetheless. Of course, I suspect that that might be the point: if you subscribe to what might be called the Charmin theory of advertising, an obnoxious ad can do the job better than a well-designed, creative one, because the obnoxious one sticks in your head like a bad song*.

*Specifically, “Seasons in the Sun” by Terry Jacks.

So maybe they know what they’re doing. I prefer to think that they’re just clueless about quality ad design. But here’s where you get the chance to decide for yourself.

For the sake of the kiddies, I’ll present the images after the jump, so you have time to shield impressionable young eyes. I’ll also offer some comments, and suggest some ideas for their next round.  

Strikes a nice ominous tone, what with the fully-lit but very empty House chamber in a kind of fish-eye view. The black background is a nice trigger for a feeling of menace, and it also makes the message pop.

The blue shafts of light give it a creepy sci-fi invasion vibe, as if the Borg have occupied the Statehouse and begun turning lawmakers into cyborgs compelled to obey every command from Governor Shumlin. Or Keith Ellis, or someone.

Some of the fonts actually match, thank goodness. And the text expresses the core message while carrying just a touch of Rhymin’ Simon whimsy.

A pretty good effort, all told.

Not at all true, of course, but that’s beside the point. Vermonters First isn’t interested in the truth, it’s interested in fomenting fear.

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This one’s kind of meh. The message is simple, effective, and fundamentally misleading, just as intended. But the color scheme is all over the place, and doesn’t compel attention.

The Benjamins in the background are dark and muddy; it’s hard to tell what they are. The half-arrow phasing from yellow to orange, meaning what? A heightened terror alert?

The ream-sized fake health-care bill is a nice touch, echoing national Republicans’ plaint that Obamacare is Too Big And Confusing. (As if any health care overhaul could be anything but big.)

But I must add a word about this use of Montpelier as a stand-in for all things evil and liberal. Bruce Lisman did this all the time in his Campaign for Vermont (Prosperity?) radio ads, because he wanted to appear bipartisan and so he avoided directly slamming the Democrats.

Why Vermonters First has picked up on it, I don’t know. But as a resident of Montpelier, I object to the conservatives trying to turn my town into another San Francisco, Boston, or Chicago: the civic embodiment of corrupt, overarching liberal power.

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Now, here’s an effective little piece of propaganda. The ominous black background, the empty bed in a dark room, a single spotlight aimed at the head. Fairly screams YOU WILL DIE HERE.

Of course, single-payer health care will result in spooky darkened hospital rooms because light bulbs, like everything else, will be RATIONED. And the light will be cold and cruel because warm, soothing incandescent bulbs will be BANNED by the Democrats’ Healthcare Greening Commissar, Bill McKibben.

GOVERNMENT-CONTROLLED all in caps is a nice bit of theatrical text. But in this context, the ovoid “LEARN MORE” button looks like a pill that you’re forcing us to take. Might want to rethink that one.

So, all in all, Vermonters First has pulled off a decent job of smearing Democrats and scarifying their policies.

BUT.

I can do better.

You want to scare voters? I’ll show you how to scare voters.

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First ad, to replace the Borg-in-the-Statehouse number:

Simple. Direct. Memorable. Over the top. Perfect for last-minute fear mongering.

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Second ad, replacing the muddled mess of a “tax increase” ad. See if this doesn’t catch your attention better.

I mean, why stop with blatantly misleading the public? Just lay it out for the sheeple: Democrats are vampires!

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Third ad, giving the health care pitch.

Yeah, that’s the ticket! If you’re gonna invoke the old “death panels” lie, don’t settle for an empty bed with a single spotlight. You need shackles and blood!

Just like in Canada!

Now see, I whipped these up in a half hour with Google Image searches and a bit of photoshopping. Why spend tens of thousands of dollars on outside agencies when you can DIY it on the cheap and get a much more inflammatory message out there?

Which is obviously what you’re aiming for, right?  

( – promoted by Sue Prent)

I’m about to be Super Pac’d! Me, Mike McCarthy, running for a State Rep. seat. Was it the indignant letter to the editor I wrote criticizing Tayt Brooks and Vermonters First a few weeks ago, or is this just the new normal…?

Looks like me and 37 other candidates for the Vermont House and Senate are about to be mentioned according to a Notice of Mass Media Activities completed 10/18/12 and mailed to me at my campaign HQ (aka home) and signed by none other than Tayt Brooks.

Is it strange that I feel a sense of pride at being targeted by people who obviously have no freakin’ clue what campaigning in Vermont should be about?

Sad thing is the expenditure, dated 10/17/12, was made to Creative Direct out of Richmond, VA. If you want to voice your Super PAC disgust please email Tayt at vemonters1st@gmail.com . If you want to fight back, please join me in supporting the targets of these mail pieces.

John S. Rodgers

Stephen Amos

Jane Kitchel

Caroline Bright

Don Collins

Ann Cummings

Anthony Pollina

Amos Bell

Bob Irish

Cindy Weed

Claudette Sortino

Edward McGuire

Justin Marsh

Ken Fredette

Dave Potter

Timothy Cutler

Mike McCarthy

Peter Peltz

Bob South

Eldred French

Herb Russell

Jim Condon

Curt Taylor

Joan G. Lenes

John W. Malcolm

Kevin Christie

Kristy Kurt Spengler

Margaret “Peg” Andrews

Sarah Buxton

John H. Taylor

Susan Hatch Davis

Paul Poirier

Tess Taylor

Tim Jerman

Linda Waite-Simpson

Sherri Durgin-Campbell

Stephen Carr