Every Friday here at Off Message headquarters, we bring you the week’s winners and losers in Vermont politics and news. After scouring the state for conventional wisdom, we run it through our sophisticated, proprietary algorithm, shake it up and add a few ounces of Heady Topper. Then we splatter it upon the internets.
Now, without further ado, we bring you The Scoreboard, for the week of Sept. 14.
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You’re wrong about Vermont Leads. The economic and political elite need to be confronted directly and openly — wherever and whenever. They must not be allowed to hide behind their wealth while that same wealth is being used to cause great harm (i.e. fighting against health care for all). My only complaint about the protest is that it only garnered 18 people. Come on, Peter, you can do better than that.
And if Seven Days is really this bummed about “hassling someone at their house,” I suspect you’re willing to call out Vermont’s congressional delegation for supporting Obama’s drone strikes in Pakistan that have not only hassled — but killed — hundreds of innocent people in their homes. Boy, talk about rude….
No, he’s right. People shouldn’t be confronted at their home just because of their political activities. You wouldn’t want people coming to your home just because you have left wing views that some people would consider offensive. The Free Press interviewed a neighbor who said she doesn’t share Broughton’s views (and I don’t either), but was offended that Vermont leads picketed outside Broughton’s home. She’s right on.
Speaking of pedantic. The “savvy political move” you describe in this post refers to a press conference. No actual legislatvie action has taken place as of today. In fact, your own blog post with a similarly incendiary headline filed Thursday, January 17 states, “Joining them at the press conference was Rep. Sarah Buxton (D-Tunbridge), who has signed on to Wright’s bill.” Rep. Buxton, by your report is a co-signer of the billl and a DEMOCRAT. She can’t then also be one of the representatives you’re referring to when you give a thumbs down to “Vermont Democrats, for sounding pedantic and partisan in their response, instead of embracing the proposals and one-upping the Republicans”.
It’s possible this was an oversight on your part. However, I believe it would be prudent to let the Republicans file the bill before passing partisan judgements. Once the bill is filed we can assess who the co-sponsors are, and when the bill is read and sent to committe it’ll be easy to determine who’s willing to go on the record in oppostion of it. Calling this as you have now, is at best, premature and at worst, it’s a smarmy, snarky award without merit.
“at worst, it’s a smarmy, snarky award without merit”
You’re new here, aren’t you? That’s what they *aspire* to achieve. Their worst is worse.
“Shumlin’s Wal-Mart dance — With his announcement Tuesday of a new Wal-Mart planned for Derby, Shummy got a good press hit up in the Kingdom, where Wal-Mart’s pretty popular. But his press office was mighty mum about it outside the Kingdom — perhaps fearing blow-back from anti-Wal-Mart liberals. Like this one. . . .”
This is why it’s totally ridiculous that GMD calls itself “reality based commentary.” Quite clearly, it is “wine and cheese liberal” based commentary. I question whether the author of the attack-posting against Shumlin on GMD lives in the Kingdom. Who is she to tell the prople in Derby that she knows better than they do about whether they should have a WalMart?
From NSA intercepts 07/21/2011: 13:41hours
FEMALE VOICE : White House Operator.
TEENAGE MALE VOICE: Yes, can you put me through to the Oval Office? I have a scheduled conference call with the President. I’m Mr. Jass, Hugh Jass.
FEMALE VOICE: One moment Mr. Jass.
{ringing}
MALE VOICE: This is Barack.
FEMALE VOICE: Mr. President, Hugh Jass is on the line.
MALE VOICE: Hugh Jass? Is he with State? (muffled as if hand on receiver) Anyone here work with Hugh Jass?
TEENAGE MALE VOICE: (Giggling)
And that’s how the NSA got authority to track and record all phone calls in the US.
I’m far from Zuckerman’s biggest fan, but it seems a bit silly to be criticizing an actual farmer for wearing overalls when delivering petitions about a farm related issue. (BTW – why is Seven Days writing about what he wore, but not bothering to cover the underlying story of 30,000 Vermonters signing petitions to support GMO labeling? Do we need to go to VT Digger to get real news, while here at Fashion Weekly we only get Joan Rivers’ Fashion Police wardrobe critiques?)
Dean for President in 2016 should definitely be under the loser category…
“Do we need to go to VT Digger to get real news?” Yes. That’s where 7D gets it, when they bother at all. The real answer is that silly (and smug) is what 7D is about, not news.
Farmer? Zuckerman arguably spends more time politicking than farming.
Sorrell has been telling us to stop passing laws that cannot be defended in Federal Court. Think how many families who are homeless or are about to become homeless that could be saved with the money spent on lawyers and appeals.
“Runner-up winner: Entergy’s hired gun, attorney Kathleen Sullivan, who’s now two for two.” Actually, so far she’s 2 for 3. She lost her tax case in Federal District court and it’s currently under appeal in the 2nd Circuit. http://vtdigger.org/2012/10/25…
Loser : Vermont electric rate payers… with the option to buy cheap energy from Entergy no longer available look for unprecedented rate increases from GAZ.
Loser : Vermont… with Entergy gone the states becomes a carbon credit buyer…not a seller.
Winner/Losers : Bob Stannard and John Greenberg… The dynamic duo has finally gotten what they wanted – the closure of VY.
Apparently jcarter1 didn’t get the memo, but Entergy decided to close citing “A high cost structure for this single unit plant.” (Entergy’s press release)
There is NO optiion “to buy cheap power from Entergy.” It’s a figment of JCarter’s imagination.
You guys are not even commenting on the right blog post.
Wilmington won’t be better off post-Irene if the draft stormwater permits ANR issued last week for the Deerfield Wind project go through. While publishing information about the importance of protecting high elevation forests and steep slopes, which gradually filter the water, ANR is proposing to permit the equivalent of two Wal-Mart parking lots on ridgelines that drain into the Deerfield River which flooded Wilmington.
Not sure how Baruth joining the Circus is considered a “win” Voters of Chittenden County will remember this at the next election. The reason “nearly every major Democratic politician” has endorsed the F35 is because they are listening to their constituents. This makes Baruth a loser
I can’t speak for Baruth – but will state that reading the report raised my eyebrows enough to change my tune 180 degrees from my initial ‘Bring on the F-35’ stance. It didn’t, however, stop my long standing (and often very public) support for the hard working men and women in the VT Air National Guard. It’s true that not supporting the F-35 leaves us with a question of, “What the guard will do after the F-16’s are retired after 2030?” It’s important to realize that there’s a difference between supporting an aircraft, and supporting the VTANG.
For listening to the facts, and realizing many of his constituents may not have read the report (and therefore may not grasp the issues) I give a thumbs up to Baruth. He seems interested in opening up the dialogue and listening to the minority, and questioning if this really is a good idea. All most of those against the F-35’s (that I’ve met) simply want is a fair shot at a decent life and a good resale value on their homes – and they’re being met with silence from officials they voted for. If the F-35 is so great it should be able to withstand some scrutiny and an open dialogue with our elected officials.
It would be one thing if the opponents were actually interested in open dialogue…they are not. They expect everyone to set aside their beliefs and opinions and fall in line with what they want. They have manipulated the data from the DEIS so that it fits their argument. Many do not wish to engage them since it means having to fall down that rabbit hole of garbled facts. Make no mistake, the scenario of Leahy, Welch or Sanders agreeing to sit down with them would not be a scenario of idea sharing, it would be more of the opponents demands. What they don’t get is when you are the minority you are not in a position to demand anything.
Oh ye of “mighty knowledge”. Specifically what parts of the of the Air Force’s official position as set forth n the dEIS have the opponents of basing the F-35 at BTV manipulated? You seem to forget that one of the principles of democracy is that the interests of the minority are protected against the sledgehammer of the majority. “Mighty knowledge” does not ensure truth or justice.
But on matters of policy, as opposed to constitutional rights, the minority cannot dictate to the majority just by whining.
I can’t help but find the irony a bit humorous that you’re making a generalization about people in opposition not being interested in an open dialogue – in response to a comment from a person in the opposition about an open dialogue. Personally speaking – I have seen the opposite. Every time I attempt to engage someone in a discussion I hear a dismissal of any fact I wish to quote wrapped up with a ‘Because – Sound of Freedom’. Sorry – but dismissing the voices of even one person – but in this case thousands of people – for some very good reasons is the opposite of the foundation of freedom is built on in a Republic. As I said above, if the F-35 is so good for the area and so beneficial to the Guard it should be able to withstand a proper dose of scrutiny.
Losers this week: Parents of kids in CSSU schools. The School Calendar 2.0 plan touted by the superintendent is absurd, untenable, and practically impossible to execute for working parents & families.
“the Department of Fish and Wildlife considers scraping the cat off the back of your car.”
I noted that the State blames the catamount for poor sales. It never even comes into their reasoning that an extra $23 in fees for an animal decal is probably why the plates are unpopular. My prediction: trout will move even fewer plates.
And speaking of bat-shit crazy, there’s a connection between the third and fifth items on your list of Losers. The misguided, attention-craving young woman who on Wednesday snatched and trashed 3,000 memorial flags at Midd and then wrote a rambling, incoherent apology/non-apology about it on the Middlebury college blog, is the same misguided, attention-craving young woman who, the day before, as a member of “Rising Tide Vermont,” participated in assclown and mob-style protest tactics at the Middlebury PSB hearing about the VGS pipleine expansion. http://vtdigger.org/2013/06/24…
I can’t believe entire world was not transformed on October 1st. Hasn’t anything else this wonderful country has ever undertaken gone off without a hitch? I think we should throw health care reform out the window and distribute leaches.
Chittenden Superintendents were big losers too! Nicely done community members who were hidden from the information for too long!
These days the leaches wear Armani suits.
How does the Governor merit a “Tie Score” when his signature legislative slippery slope to Single Payer does a face plant and he won’t acknowledge or administer a backup plan?
I have one employee who’s insurance payment will go from $280 per month to $1028 due to the new health care act. Can anyone explain what makes this fair?
Well it was clear a long time ago Leas was a loser.
Does commenting on this forum make me a freelance writer for 7Days…. cool I better add that to my resume…
Loser: Paul Heintz who needs to “put the breaks (sic)” on his reliance on spell check.
Them’s the brakes, kid.
My whole existence has been validated.
Why is healthcare so hard? Every other industrialized nation has managed this trick, but our attempts seem to go like hiring the Three Stooges to paint a house.
“Vermont Democratic Party — Those bored operatives over at the Democratic Party headquarters seem psyched to finally have some opposition in the form of Sunderland. They were quick to fire off a fundraising solicitation and press release this week going after the new GOP chairman.”
Of course they did. Attacking the other side is what we do.
It’s painfully obvious that the Democratic party operatives would be inconsolable if they didn’t have an enemy they could attack.
The Repubs are too conservative. The Dem operatives attack them for that.
The Repubs do what many have been waiting for — move to a more moderate position. And the Dems attack them again.
Love this weekly feature. Thank you.
$75 Million. Great. I foresee raiding the transportation fund, raising the sales tax, taxes on candy and soda. Property tax hikes to bail out the teachers fund. The income tax is probably going to get tapped to pay for Shumlincare. I’d vote Republican- if I could find one.
Andi Higbee had to go. It was simply bizarre to hear him acting as Department Spokesman for that shooting in the North End, a shooting being investigated by the Vermont State Police, while his own lawyers were making the public case that the same State Police were incompetent and/or just a little bit dishonest.
Regardless, truth is, if you viewed the full video of that state police stop on Mr. Higbee, you’d have to agree that there was no, absolutely no, basis for stopping his car, and no basis for arresting him for DUI.
My point is, if the State Police aren’t credible on a DUI, why would they be credible on a shooting? Worse, if you’re BPD how do you square that circle?
@ Tim w a T: ok, you make a fair point. Maybe that contradiction is why he “retired.”
Winners? By bringing the F-35s? That’s amusing .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?…
You missed that VELCO was a big loser and people standing up to corporate bullies were the big winners in Rutland County Superior Court when the jury came back with a $1 million award for the taking of property for a cell tower too close to a residence http://vermontersforacleanenvi…