Freyne Land

Okay, okay, okay. It's a snowy day in Vermont and I’m starting to pay attention.

I give in. I give up!

There is nothing more important on Earth than the 2008 U.S. presidential election. Not even shoveling the driveway.

Besides, it’ll all be over in less than nine months, just like a pregnancy. Look, Pedro, you simply can't ignore the damn thing any longer.

Of course, we'll have to get through Town Meeting Day, the Republican and Democratic Conventions that could put a couple Vermonters in the spotlight of history. And then there’s the Olympic Games in Red China where they make everything these days. And the World Series. And the surprises as yet unimagined...

But from this little outpost on the eastern shore of Lake Champlain, it appears the tide is turning...against Hillary Clinton. So much for the continuation of some royal-family torch-passing in the "Democratic" USA. Hillary looks like a woman who's had her last night in the Lincoln Bedroom.

Bush I was, after Clinton's reign, followed by a son, Bush II. But William Jefferson Clinton does not look like he’ll pass the torch to his wife after Dubya mercifully departs.

Why do I say this?

Because Freyne Land is all-of-a-sudden on the Clinton for President Campaign email list! They're noticing the March 4 Vermont Primary.

Just got one from Mark Penn, Ol’ Hillary’s “Chief Strategist.” Interesting chap. Do c heck him out here at SourceWatch.  Also here at his outfit Global Leadership.

Says the award-winning public relations spin-doctor once dubbed the “Master of the Message” by Time Magazine [did wonders for Bill]:

This election will come down to delegates.  Votes are still being counted and delegates apportioned, but Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are separated by approximately 40 delegates right now – that is, barely 1% of all the delegates to the Democratic convention.

Change Begins March 4th.  Hillary leads in the three largest, delegate rich states remaining: Texas, Ohio and Pennsylvania...

The reason Hillary is so strong in Ohio, Texas and Pennsylvania is that her message of delivering solutions resonates strongly with voters in those states.  Hillary is the only candidate who can deliver the economic change voters want...

The demographics in these states also favor Hillary Clinton...

Hillary Clinton has shown that she has the ability and organization to compete financially and on the ground... 

Again and again, this race has shown that it is voters and delegates who matter, not the pundits or perceived “momentum.”    

Believe him?

Hey, if DNC Chairman Howard Brush Dean III says you're on the 25-member Credentials Committee that decides who can vote at the Democratic Convention this summer, you're on the Credentials Committee!

And if the primary contest between New York Sen. Hillary Clinton and Illinois Sen. Barack Obama continues on a nip-and-tick course, those 25 votes, including four cast by Vermonters, will be biggies.

Those four Vermonters include three former members of Ho-Ho's gubernatorial staff [from back in the old days before he had the antiwar/political sex-change operation]: Kathy Hoyt, Kate O'Connor and Bob Rogan - and someone who for some reason gets her name left out of all the news stories and even today's editorial about the Credentials Committee in the Times Argus.

And that distinguished someone would be Jane Stetson of Norwich. Jane, wife of Bill Stetson, founding president of the Vermont Film Commission, is of the Watson/IBM lineage and, like Bill, a passionate Barack Obama supporter.

It was at her Norwich home last August that Obama-Wama had the big fundraiser that raised around $250,000 for the currently emerging Democratic front-runner.  Check out Mike Ives' story about it in Seven Days. Also Philip Barruth - an Obama supporter - blogged it up good in his Vermont Daily Briefing as "The Brigadoon Fundraiser of 2007."

Yours truly had a nice chat with one of those credentialed Democratic power-brokers late Tuesday - Mr. Rogan [at right]. Bob is currently chief of staff for Vermont Democratic Congressman Peter Welch - a man who appears unopposed in the 2008 race.

Freyne: Tough race ahead for Welchie?

Bob Rogan: Every day we wake up assuming we will have a competitive race. That’s what we’re planning for.

Freyne: Male or female?

Rogan: No idea. Lot’s of rumors come across the transom daily. We’re just assuming it’s going to be a competitive race and we’re planning for it.

Freyne: A lot of folks up here are thinking there isn’t going to be one. Are they crazy?

Rogan: You’ll have to ask them.

Freyne: Seen Howard lately?

Rogan: Yes. I  spoke to him three weeks ago on the phone. He’s in good shape and happy and enjoying the position he’s in.

Freyne: [Rogan and I go back a few years.] I remember the other Howard Dean.

Rogan: Which one was that?

Freyne: The one that was governor of Vermont. 

Rogan: [laughs] He’s come a long way.

Freyne:  Kate O’Connor, formerly on the campaign staff of right-wing Republican U.S. Senate candidate Ritchie Tarrant [ran against Bernie Sanders in 2006 and got creamed), is now on the Democratic Credentials Committee. Isn’t that a little funny?

Rogan: You’ll have to ask Howard and Kate about that. Kate is an old-time Vermonter with good political horse-sense. She’s someone who’s loyal to Howard Dean and a good friend of his and ours, but you’ll have to get someone else to comment on that.

Freyne: Do you have a horse?

Rogan: No. Haven’t written any checks; haven’t endorsed. I don’t have a dog in this one.

Freyne: The McCain people would like it to be Hillary.

Rogan: Unfortunately, that’s not going to be their choice...Everyone says this, but it’s what I truly believe. They’re both incredibly strong candidates and bring their own strengths to the table. And the party and the country will be served well by whoever ends up the nominee and the president.

Freyne: Well, that’s the standard rap.

Rogan: I honestly believe it. That’s why I’m having a tough time deciding.

Freyne: Let’s look at it from the other angle - their weaknesses. What is Hillary’s #1 weakness?

Rogan:  [chuckles] That’s not for me to say. They’re both strong candidates.

Freyne: She’s got baggage Obama doesn’t have. You’re not going to go there?

Rogan: Others will go there. I’m not.

[Mr. Rogan said all he knows is he got a call from Ho-Ho about three weeks ago and a follow-up letter.]

There’s going to be a meeting of the Credentials Committee sometime in July and, I assume, another meeting at the convention. This is the committee that will determine which delegates have the right to vote on the floor of the convention.

It’s going to be fun and a bit intense.

Freyne: Ever think you’d have this wild a life?

Rogan: [chuckles] I’m living on the edge, Peter.

After catching Ol' Bernardo at Mt. Mansfield Union High School on Sunday morning, yours truly actually made the trip to the Statehouse where the state committee of the Vermont Progressive Party met from 1 PM until 4 PM.

Driving was a wee bit dicey - from 30 mph to Waterbury, then 50-55 mph the rest of the way. A few vehicles off the road. Word from Statehouse security was the Vermont State Police had stopped responding to vehicle accidents  - too damn many.

State Chair Martha Abbott of Underhill said the state committee had 85 members, though with the snow and ice, only about 25 made it to Montpeculiar.

They got to hear David T. Z. Mindich [speaking at right] talk about his book: Tuned Out - Why Americans Under 40 Don't Follow the News.

Scary.

David teaches journalism at St. Mike's. He told us he's a progressive "with a small 'p.'"

And they also got to see Anthony Pollina's new up and running website - which you can now see, too. Here.

On the left, a Vermont legend - Art Gibb.

Art served in the Vermont House and Senate in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, a Republican who cared deeply about Vermont's environmental beauty and integrity and is one of the main reasons Vermont's roadways are not littered with billboard advertising like the other 49 states.

Thank you, Art.

He's also a key reason for Vermont's Act 250, the landmark environmental law that's held back commercial, anything-for-a-buck, development. Art Gibb was 97 when he passed away in 2005. More here.

On the right - the backside, or rather the ponytail of the Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, David Zuckerman (P-Burlington). We think it's the longest under the Golden Dome - male or female - not that size matters.

Wavy Davy's Ponytail made the blog because it isn't going to be around much longer. Tuesday afternoon it's going bye-bye. In fact, said Zuckerman, enough $$$ pledges come in and he's SHAVING IT ALL OFF!

To all State House colleagues, legislators, staff, lobbyists, guests:

Some of you may remember that a few years ago I cut some of my hair as a fundraiser for kids with hair loss diseases (locks-of-love). Your generosity helped provide over $3,500 to go along with my wife's and my ponytail “locks”.

This year, on February 12 at 3:30 in Room 10, I will have my hair cut, lopped, buzzed, or even shaved as another fundraiser. Rep. Denise Barnard has been kind enough to agree to do the job. This time I will again be sending my hair out of state, but the money raised will be used for youth services organizations within Vermont. The four groups are Spectrum Youth and Family Services in Burlington, Youth Services in Brattleboro, Northeast Kingdom Youth Services in St. Johnsbury, and 206 Depot in Bennington. The money raised will be divided equally...

Zuckerman says his longest measured hair strand was 35-inches long.

Just won't be the same without it...

Democrat House Speaker Gaye Symington didn't mince words Friday afternoon when asked if she cared to comment about GOP Gov. Jim Douglas' comment about the 127-9 passage of hemp legislation in the Vermont House. Lot of GOP "yes" votes in there, eh?

Gov. Scissorhands, while not talking "veto" [he doesn't have the votes on this baby], poo-poohed it Thursday as a waste of valuable legislative time.

Said Speaker Gaye of Jericho:

I think that bill took a couple days work and was based on solid experience in other states [sic] and will mean that at the point where the Feds move, we will be ready to go. And I can't imagine there's anything to lose by creating more opportunities for Vermont farmers.

Reminded hemp, since 1958, has been considered illegal because Uncle Sam considers it the same exact thing as marijuana, Symington predicted there will be a new Administration in the White House come January, and with a likely even stronger Democratic Congress, hemp should fly.

I think it would be good to be ready for that refocusing on the priorities of this country and a vibrant economy that's likely to come after the 2008 Election.

She's got a point, eh?

P.S. Got home from Montpeculiar and the last electrician was gone. The heat's on!

Back to the world of digitized button-hitting to obtain life's basics.

Progress, right?

A little after 7 AM. Waiting for the electrician-guy. To get the new furnace [we think it was made in Germany - hey, what’s made in America anymore besides footballs for the Super Bowl?] and hot-water heater up and running. They had trouble getting it started last night, reading the manuals and instructions over and over.

It was on when they left around 8:30, but it didn’t last long. Got two little electric portables that worked just fine overnight.

Central heating is really such a 20th Century luxury. It put the hot-water-bottle industry, which some of you white-haired folks recall, out of business.

Saw Montpeculiar from a distance yesterday - like normal people do.  Bagged it due to the weather - smart, right?

So, what happened with the healthcare reformers’ Lobby Day #2?

WPTZ-TV had a little report, showed folks in some auditorium with Dr. Deb Richter talking. Couldn't tell where it was actually, but it wasn’t the Statehouse.

WCAX-TV, “Vermont’s Own”  had absolutely no coverage of it. Statehouse Reporter Kristin Carlson filed a piece on the Senate Judiciary Committee looking at relaxing the marijuana possession laws.

God forbid!

Then in HealthWatch, the other Kristin, Anchorwoman Kristin Kelly had this reefer-madness-style read-over:

A new study finds smoking pot triples the risk for gum disease. Researchers in New Zealand examined 9-hundred young adults. Of those with new cases of gum disease -- they say one-third was the result of smoking marijuana. The increased risk exists even for light smokers -- and for people who don't smoke cigarettes. The researchers say toxins in marijuana destroy circulation -- and prevent the gums from healing. Gum Disease can lead to tooth loss. It also increases the risk of heart disease and stroke.

As goes New Zealand, so goes Earth!

Ah! 7:30 and the furnace guys are here and the electrician guy, too! Gonna get this baby running!

Associated Press Reporter David Gram went the pot-route, too. Filing a cannabis story on the world’s largest newswire, but unlike Ch. 3, he led with the Vermont House’s landslide approval of the Hemp Bill, and tacked the Senate Judiciary’s dalliance with the more potent strains of pot on the end.

Interesting.

Friday's Burlington Free Press had a Nancy Remsen front-pager on the House Commerce Committee hearing about the evils of junk mail! And inside, they had Terri Hallenbeck's version of the Senate committee on the marijuana roll. Didn’t see a peep online about the Hemp Landslide on the House floor, though.

The out-country newspaper “chain” - Rutland Herald and Times Argus - did not ignore the healthcare protesters. Let’s face it, the issue isn’t going away. They put it out front, too: “Sparks fly at Statehouse hearing on single-payer health care.”  Here.

In a phone interview last night, Dr. Richter told Freyne Land  that 100 people signed their “Healthcare for All” sheet under the Golden Dome on Thursday. Considering the weather - not bad, eh!

She said I’d missed a good one - the passions were flowing, as Dan Barlow reports. Richter said they wanted Health Committee Chairs Sen. Doug Racine and Rep. Steve Maier to agree to hold a public hearing on H.304 - the reform bill that would cost the insurance companies and hospital paper-pushes significant buckaroos, while covering all Vermonters hospitalization costs like governments do in the rest of civilization.

Chairman Doug and Chairman Steve, both Democrats, she said, declined.

Didn’t Racine run for governor once?

Nice day, eh?

Yours truly was up at 5:30 AM. L'il snow in the Queen City.

Hell - lotta snow.

Shoveled out so the dynamic duo installing the new furnace and water heater could get in. Pleasure to meet folks who actually know how to do stuff. And they never went to college.

Maybe that explains why they know how to do stuff?

Then headed around the corner for a little Java. The snow just won't stop. Almost 16 inches in the Peoples Republic. Vermont like the old days. No one will be sitting at the picnic table outside Speeder & Earl's today.

The Ol' Saturn, I was just told, will be ready for pick-up at the body shop around 1:30 PM. That's when Gov. Scissorhands is having his weekly presser in the Ceremonial Office at the Statehouse. And it's just after Dr. Deb Richter and her "Healthcare for All" crowd wrap up their second monthly Statehouse protest/lobby day. We'll see how the weather affects the turnout.

Looks like I'm gonna miss both, since I still haven't deciphered all the bells, whistles, buttons and switches on the Toyota Prius rental, and even if I did, the roads look like *&#*.

C'est la vie.

Hope King James doesn't miss me.

Tomorrow's another day.

As in Matt Dunne.

You remember Matt Dunne, right?

Native Vermonter. The up-and-comer from Hartland?

A young, brilliant, bright and shining Vermont Democratic state representative - four terms. Elected at the age of 22. Remember 22?

Left in the late 1990s for the Washington, DC-scene as the director of AmeriCorps*Vista. Came back and played state senator for two terms, then ran for Lite-Gov in 2006.

Good "marketing" skills.

Very good.

Not good enough, however, to get him elected lieutenant-governor, but just fine for landing a said-to-be very lucrative marketing gig with Google.

Yes, that Google.

Matt Dunne emailed supporters Wednesday afternoon and Vermont Democratic Party Chairman Ian Carleton put out a press release.

Dunne told his fans that:

"...for reasons that will become clear in the near future, I have decided not to run for office in 2008.

"In this year away from the golden dome, I have enjoyed reentering the private sector as a consultant, spending time with my family and helping others who are passionate about the need for change in our state and country."

Sounds like a guy with a title waiting in President Barack Obama's Administration, doesn't he?