Friday, October 2, 2015
But Isabelle works in the elections division of the Secretary of State’s Office as elections administrator. Does he have that same right?
Vermont Republican Party chair David Sunderland said no. Sunderland sent a letter to Secretary of State Jim Condos on Friday complaining about Isabelle. “I write today to bring a concerning display of political bias to your attention,” Sunderland’s letter said.
He particularly complained about a comment Isabelle made on the blog Vermont Political Observer, in which Isabelle defended Democratic gubernatorial candidate Matt Dunne. He also pointed out two tweets that suggest Isabelle leans Democratic and toward Dunne.
“It struck me as being certainly inappropriate, maybe unprofessional,” Sunderland said. “It’s like an NFL referee coming out wearing one team’s colors.”
Tags: Vermont elections , Vermont Republican Party , Jim Condos , J.P. Isabelle , David Sunderland , Image , Web Only
Tuesday, September 29, 2015
“I’m extremely happy Phil is in the race and I’m supporting Phil in the primary,” Milne said. “I expect I’ll support him in the general election. I think he’s going to beat [retired Wall Street executive] Bruce Lisman in the primary.” Not a big surprise, given that the two graduates of Barre’s Spaulding High School have similar political leanings.
But as is often the case with Milne, the backing comes with some nuances. In some comments to news media he’s left the door open to joining the race — as if he is to Phil Scott as Joe Biden is to Hillary Clinton — possibly ready to run, just in case.
Just last week, Milne was characterizing his own run for governor in 2016 as "unlikely," but he wasn't dismissing it. "Right now, I see me being in the same race with my friend as unlikely," he told Seven Days.
The Woodstock Standard reported last week, “Though Milne hasn’t officially said he won’t be a candidate, he said the likelihood is small because his respect for Scott is too big.” WCAX-TV reported Tuesday that Milne supports Scott, but added: “Milne says he would only get in the governor's race if Scott was to falter.” Wait, does he expect Scott to falter? “No, I expect Phil to win the nomination,” Milne told Seven Days.
Milne said he’s still considering his role in the 2016 election. "Whether it's as a candidate or helping others, I plan to be involved," he said. "People have encouraged me to run for governor, lieutenant governor, U.S. senator and the state legislature."
Tags: Scott Milne , Phil Scott , Peter Shumlin , Vermont politics , Image , Web Only
Monday, September 21, 2015
The Vermont Progressive Party and a group of Democratic state legislators are backing Bernie Sanders.
The Progs, at their quarterly state committee meeting Saturday, voted nearly unanimously for a resolution singing Sanders’ praises, said Kelly Mangan, party executive director. The resolution notes that the party's positions on many issues align with Sanders' campaign platform, and urges Progressives to support Sanders.
Tags: Senator , Bernie Sanders , Presidential Campaign , Vermont Progressive Party , Vermont Democrats , Peter Shumlin , Patrick Leahy , Image , Recommended Reading , Video , Web Only
Racine won't be running this time around, he said Monday. He is instead backing Democrat Sue Minter, a former state legislator who recently stepped down as Agency of Transportation secretary to launch her campaign for governor.
“I like her politics and I like her experience as a legislator and a manager,” Racine said.
Racine and state Rep. Mary Sullivan (D-Burlington) are hosting an October meet-and-greet for Minter in Burlington. Minter so far is facing House Speaker Shap Smith (D-Morristown) and former state senator Matt Dunne in a Democratic primary.
Tags: Doug Racine , Sue Minter , Peter Shumlin , Shap Smith , Peter Galbraith , Matt Dunne , Image , Web Only
Thursday, September 17, 2015
There was a time when landing the cover of Time was really the big time. Magazines don't quite have the corner on the media market anymore, but for the upstart Democratic presidential candidate it's something to crow about.
"Bernie. Socialize this, America," Time's headline reads.
Tags: Senator , Bernie Sanders , Presidential Campaign , Time , Hillary Clinton , Donald Trump , Image , Recommended Reading , Web Only
“It’s not the easiest thing in the world,” said the 20-year-old political science and economics major from Bolton, Conn. “I tell people, ‘Five years from now it’s the fiscal issues that are going to matter to you.’”
So Maulucci came down the hill Wednesday night to Halvorson’s Upstreet Café, where he joined about 50 Vermont Republicans to watch the GOP's 11-candidate presidential debate.
The event, put on by the Vermont Republican Party, was intended to rev up the GOP’s younger set. Roughly half the crowd fit that definition. There were more button-down shirts and khakis than you might find at a Sanders rally. And perhaps a stronger preference for Budweiser than craft beer.
Tags: Senator , Republican presidential debate , Marco Rubio , Donald Trump , Carly Fiorina , Jeb Bush , Bernie Sanders , Hillary Clinton , Image , Web Only
Friday, September 11, 2015
Daniel Craig, the British actor and U.S. resident who starred as 007 in Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace and Skyfall, acknowledged he gave $47,300 to a political action committee thinking the donation was to support presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), according to the Center for Public Integrity, an investigative news outlet. Apparently eluding him was the fact that the Vermont senator eschews PACs.
The PAC, Americans Socially United, is the work of Cary Lee Peterson, a character who might fit into a Bond movie if screenwriters could find a way to make campaign finance action-film-worthy. The Center for Public Integrity noted that Peterson "has routinely run afoul of creditors and the law — including stiffing one of the nation’s largest news companies out of a six-figure sum."
Tags: Senator , Bernie Sanders , James Bond , Presidential Campaign , government reform , Image , Recommended Reading , Web Only
Thursday, September 10, 2015
Sanders was favored by 41 percent among likely caucus voters, according to the Quinnipiac University poll, while 40 percent preferred Clinton. The lead is within the poll's margin of error. Another 12 percent backed Vice President Joe Biden, who has not said whether he's running.
As Politico noted, the poll represents a significant leap for Sanders. In July, a Quinnipiac poll of Iowa voters showed Clinton with a 52-33 percent lead.
Earlier this week, an NBC News/Marist poll of Democratic voters showed Sanders leading Hillary Clinton 41 percent to 32 percent in New Hampshire.
Tags: Senator , Bernie Sanders , Hillary Clinton , Joe Biden , Presidential Campaign , campaign trail , Image , Recommended Reading , Web Only
Sue Minter stepped down from her job as state transportation secretary Thursday and announced she’ll run for governor. She plans an October campaign kickoff.
Minter, 54, a Democrat from Waterbury who spent 13 months overseeing the state’s recovery after Tropical Storm Irene ripped up roads, bridges and homes in 2011, emphasized her managerial experience as she competes against at least two other Democrats for the party’s nomination next year.
“When I see a problem, I look for the potential,” said Minter. “I’m someone who is very focused on solving problems and getting things done.”
She served six years in the Vermont House, four years as deputy transportation secretary and the last eight months as secretary of the state’s second-largest agency.
Minter submitted her resignation Thursday morning, effective Friday. Gov. Peter Shumlin, a Democrat who is not seeking reelection, issued a statement praising Minter’s work. He also appointed deputy secretary Chris Cole to her post.
Tags: Sue Minter , Peter Shumlin , Shap Smith , Matt Dunne , Phil Scott , Bruce Lisman , Image , Web Only
Wednesday, September 9, 2015
The New York Times' public editor, Margaret Sullivan, responded Wednesday to criticisms of her paper's coverage. She noted the numbers: The Times wrote 14 articles about Sanders in August. During the same period, the paper penned 54 articles about Hillary Clinton, and 63 on Donald Trump. She wrote:
Here’s my take: The Times has not ignored Mr. Sanders’ campaign by any means but it also hasn’t always taken it very seriously. The tone of some stories does seem regrettably dismissive, even mocking at times. Some of it is focused on the candidate’s age, appearance and style rather than what he has to say.
Sullivan's column concluded:
The vast majority of the comments on her column Wednesday continued to bash the Times over its Sanders coverage.
The Times’s executive editor, Dean Baquet, told me recently that he wants to focus more heavily on issue stories in the coming weeks and months. Candidates like Mr. Sanders – no matter how electable they prove to be – can and should be a part of that. Times readers are completely within their rights to expect and demand it.
Tags: Senator , Bernie Sanders , New York Times , Hillary Clinton , Donald Trump , Presidential Campaign , Image , Recommended Reading , Web Only