Dem Guv Race Still Too Close to Call (UPDATE: Shumlin Claims Victory)

1. So what’ll happen to the exclusionary AARP debate (http://7d.blogs.com/blurt/2010/08/independents-excluded-from-first-postprimary-gov-debate.html) if they’ve yet to declare a winner by tomorrow night?

2. Anyone who has watched Tom Salmon in action sees a guy who always seems on the verge of falling completely apart. When he speaks to the media (in appearances in Montpelier, not emails to Shay), his demeanor and substance strikes people who see him as nearly coming unhinged. He will go on and on at length and combatively on a subject without provocation, turning what should be a routine answer to a question into a lengthy rant. It makes (apolitical) observers cringe in discomfort. If you want an insight into the way he behaves, go back and listen to the VPR interview he did right after his DUI arrest. His verbal machinations to avoid any personal responsibility are astounding. His egotistic pronouncements were embarrassing.The guy is a mess.

3. If a reporter with an obvious agenda were badgering me and wasting my time (ie. taxpayer dollars), I’d tell them to fuck off too. I think most people with any balls would. This isn’t troubling to the average person. You obviously haven’t read much in the way of Hoffer’s online exploits if you just think he’s “prickly.””Salmon lied about completing the audit of the VT Yankee Decommissioning fund”Citation? I don’t think even Hoffer claims this.”Salmon was the only elected official to refuse a pay cut when the budget crisis hit.”Yeah, he contributed the 5% that would have been cut to charity instead. Then last year he voluntarily took *more* than that 5% pay cut. What a horrible person.His office bought the camera, his office owns it, and he reimbursed the state for the cost of using it when he did. Other state offices own video cameras too – they use them to tape meetings etc., as does the auditor’s office. What a scandal.We’ll see what happens. Flanagan didn’t do a thing to campaign against Hoffer, and as a result the average voter knows nothing about him other than what he’s said about himself. I think that’s about to change.

4. IMO, telling a reporter to “Fu*k off” is the definition of flying off the handle when challenged. Salmon might be prickly. But Salmon is unhinged. And Salmon didn’t “borrow” a camera. He used taxpayer money to purchase a camera that was then used strictly for campaign purposes. And he used a state employee to film his speaches which he admitted were taped strictly for re-election purposes. Salmon lied about completing the audit of the VT Yankee Decommissioning fund. Salmon gave raises to his staff when every other department in government was laying people off and reducing salaries. Salmon was the only elected official to refuse a pay cut when the budget crisis hit. Salmon can’t even fill out campaign finance reports properly. Salmon deserves to be voted out.

5. “(Hoffer) has been the only candidate to bring relevant issues into the campaign.”Au contraire, mon frere. He’s basing his entire campaign around total non-issues – his slogan is “restore integrity,” but all he can come up with to demonstrate that Salmon has no integrity is that Salmon borrowed an office video camera and that he sent an email from an office account.”But unlike Salmon, he’s never told a journalist to “Fu*k off”.”There’s nothing wrong with telling someone to fuck off when they’re badgering you over a meaningless issue. On the other hand, Hoffer’s tendency to completely fly off the handle on message boards when challenged, even in completely non-confrontational ways, is downright unsettling. Unfortunately, not even the Progs can invent a “Google eraser.”

6. Sorry, first sentence should read, “HOFFER is the only candidate to bring relevant issues to the campaign.”

7. Salmon has been the only candidate to bring relevant issues into the campaign. Salmon made significant errors in his campaign finance reports. If he can’t file these forms properly, how can he conduct an audit. Salmon lists an audit of the Vermont Yankee Decomissioning Fund among his accomplisments … but the audit has not been completed (even though he said that he’d do it 2 years ago …) He doesn’t smile a lot. He’s a serious guy. But unlike Salmon, he’s never told a journalist to “Fu*k off”. On balance, I’d say that Doug is much more personable.

8. “who really wants to have their accountant start making IRS jokes?”He’s not an accountant. That’s one of many strikes against him. Salmon’s a CPA, Hoffer apparently has some type of law degree that he’s never used. He has nothing resembling accounting credentials.It’s not that he’s humorless, it’s that he comes off as angry, defensive and a bit out of control when challenged on his “tax the evil rich” agenda, to the point of being kind of disturbing. He’s left a mountain of material strewn all over the internet the last few years. I guess we’ll see if people are OK with that.

9. I don’t know if humor is something people want in an Auditor. I can see it as needed for all the other positions, but who really wants to have their accountant start making IRS jokes? Plus, he’s had the benefit of Shay ripping on Ed and Tom for months now.

10. Thank you, 7DVT, for the efforts you all put in last night on your live blog. I have to admit: It was pretty addictive to watch the unfolding events and the positive contributions from most of the folks.Yet, behind the horse race stuff, some profound issues hover over our state, nation and world. Having spent some time in the political realm as a staffer, I am truly chagrined that most of the effort is put into messaging, spin and impression management. Eventually, we have to solve problems, truly vexatious ones.Three statewide candidates truly impressed me:– I like Doug Racine’s seriousness. Unfortunately, that often is a net minus in the current political milieu. I would have confidence in how he would act in office;– I still don’t know much about Phil Scott, but I saw him in a few settings. The guy works hard, and I think he has a practical approach. Hopefully, he won’t get contaminated by the hard-right predisposition of the VT GOP; and– I have listened to Doug Hoffer, and I like his emphasis on substance. Yet, I have never sensed that he has a sense of humor, which is a leavening ingredient for most pols.

Comments are closed.