Freyne Land

There's only one Vermont.

No billboards along the highway and no one-party rule!

Yesterday, Vermont voters showed just how finicky they can be. They know what they want and they vote that way regardless of party label. For U.S. Senate and U.S. House, Vermonters sent a clear message to the Bush administration, choosing Independent Left-Wing Legend Bernie Sanders, our eight-term congressman, and liberal Democratic attorney and State Sen. Peter Welch.

No surprise.

Then, in the races for governor and lieutenant governor, the majority of Vermont voters made it clear they are not ready to toss out Gov. Jim Douglas and Lt. Gov. Brian Dubie, two incumbent Republicans who have supported the Bush administration like loyal boy scouts.

Go figure.

"The people of Vermont have told America that they are sick and tired of right-wing extremism," shouted Senator-elect Bernie Sanders to the huge crowd in the jam-packed ballroom at Burlington's Wyndham Hotel last night. "This is the beginning of a grassroots movement all over America," declared Ol' Bernardo, "in which our citizenry is beginning to stand up and say our government has to represent all of us, not just the wealthy and the powerful."

"Destiny has suggested," said Sanders, "that this small state of Vermont is going to lead America in a very different direction." And the day will come, he predicted, "when people all over America are going to say, 'Thank you, Vermont!'"

Boy, it's going to be fun watching the rest of country get to know our Bernie Sanders, the Vermonter with the Flatbush accent.

"Barak Obama called," said Welch the Winner to the same ballroom crowd an hour or so later. That sparked a huge cheer for the Illinois senator many consider a top contender for his party's 2008 presidential nomination.

"I've got to call him back," quipped Pedro, er, Congressman-elect Welch, "and tell him what kind of reception he got." Welch said he told Obama, "I don't know what your plans are, but if they include running for president, I've got a campaign manager whose name is Carolyn Dwyer!"

That's Carolyn the Campaign Manager getting the boss' adulation and thanks last night at the Wyndham Hotel before his victory was official.

Yes, indeed. Democrat Welch had his proverbial hands fulls with his GOP opponent, first-time candidate Martha Rainville. Marvelous Martha, the former Vermont National Guard adjutant general, has awesome candidate skills and they have been noticed by the Democrats. Without Bush and the Iraq War, this election could easily have turned out differently. She'll be back.

U.S. Senate candidate Richard Tarrant, however, will not. Can't think of anyone who will miss him...or his obnoxious and mean-spirited TV commercials. The Seven Million Dollar Man ran an abysmal, negative campaign that only emphasized his lack of political skill and grasp of the issues. If Tarrant had a message of any substance, we never, ever heard it. Can't wait to see what the retired gazillionaire does next.

Hey, no need for pity. Richie Rich has a brand new $9 million oceanfront mansion in Florida to go home to. The house cost him $2 million more than the U.S. Senate campaign. His bruised ego will surely heal.

"I think we ran a real good campaign," said Tarrant last night. "We ran hard."

Sure you did, Richie, whatever you say.

But Vermonters had a very different view when it came to state officers. Republican Gov. Jim Douglas really didn't have to break a sweat against Democrat challenger Scudder Parker. It's obvious our Gov. Scissorhands can do this in his sleep. Unoffical results show Douglas won easily in a landslide with 57 percent to Ol' Scudder's 41 percent. Parker's campaign remained a mystery to many - including many Democrats - all the way to the end. He has the experience and the grasp of the issues, but never was able to express his "message" effectively.

Meanwhile, Republican Lt. Gov. Brian Dubie got a run for his money from Democrat State Sen. Matt Dunne. But Doobie-Doo held on to win a third term by five points with 51 percent of the vote to Not-to-be-UnDunne's 46 percent.

"This is, for us, just the beginning," said Dunne last night. For a guy who lost, he sure was smiling a lot.

Like Martha Rainville, Matt Dunne will be back. Both take to the game like ducks to water. In 2008, Vermont Ds need a gubernatorial candidate. Matt Dunne's name immediately shoots to the top of the list.  And Vermont Rs need someone to take on Congressman Welch. Hear that, Martha?

So there's our first take on the November 7 happenings in Vermont.

Oh, did we forget the biggie?

The corrupt, dishonest and incompetent Bush-Cheney administration lost its one-party control of Congress. 

The House has gone Democrat and the Senate remains too close to call with two races still up in the air.

The times, they are a changin'....

Finally, eh?

The big day.

The citizens of the United States of America will be electing new leaders - senators and congressmen, governors and lieutenant governors and more.

Democracy’s greatest moment.

This is the radical human right of citizenship that Ethan Allen and the boys, and their families, fought for, went to prison for, and died for.

Now one can “blog” about it while the votes are being cast and counted.

Or stretch one's legs with a stroll down by "Oakhenge,"  the newly-erected Stonehenge-like Earth Clock by Blanchard Beach adjacent to Oakledge Park on the Burlington shoreline. It's intended to be a  Circle for Peace.

Nice to see "peace" getting a plug for a change, eh?

I'm sure our troops in Iraq would appreciate it. The troops waiting to go to Iraq. And the people of Iraq, too?

Surely, "Supporting Our Troops" does require more than affixing a fake yellow-ribbon to one's gas-guzzling global-warmer, doesn't it?  Requires more than quietly accepting the outrageous lies of a regime hell-bent on an invasion? A White House determined to - under no circumstances - let the truth get in the way of their policy?

Yes, it has been scary. Through the electoral process, our government was captured by crooks, liars and thieves. Incompetent crooks, liars and thieves.

If Oakhenge reminds us of anything, it's that we Homo sapiens have been on this spinning rock for quite some time. The golden rule is that what goes around comes around. There must be accountability. Without justice, there can be no peace.

The twentysomethings (and some thirtysomethings), that I've met during this 2006 Vermont political campaign understand that. I have not had children, but this crew would be my kids' age if I did. Their parents were my contemporaries. I sense a comfortable familiarity. It's more than just a game to them. After a rather long absence, my old 1960s hope for a brighter day has been steadily returning in recent months.

This new 40-foot-wide Burlington stone circle (Barre granite), is being built to create a beautiful spot for personal reflection and contemplation. It'll also be a wonderful educational class-outing for school children. The stones mark the solstice and equinox sunsets and much more. You see, these folks have the "radical" and ancient idea that "inner peace/inner strength can be restored by the simple witness of the rhythms of nature."

Yes, indeed, there was knowledge before laptops and Blackberries.

Happy Election Day 2006!

Do your thing and do check in, will ya?

Thoughts from around the state, the nation and the planet.

Imagine Thomas Jefferson with a laptop?

That's how former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean (1991-2003) responded when we asked his this afternoon how he was feeling about tomorrow - Election Day 2006. That's Ho-Ho above with Lite-Gov candidate Matt Dunne next to him this afternoon at Democratic H.Q. in Burlap. About the same size are they. Interesting. But where's lieutenant governor ever led anyone, eh?

Just kidding. Anyway, "Chairman Dean," we asked, "how are you feeling right at this moment?"

"I'm feeling quietly optimistic. I think we like where the polls are heading us. The only poll that counts is tomorrow, but we're putting up a huge effort to get out the vote - one that we haven't done for a long time. And that effort is in all 50 states for the first time in several decades."

"New Kid on the Block" Dean, you may recall, took a lot of flack from his party's Old Guard for doing the 50-state game plan. The Old Guard, however, is looking like doggie poop at the moment.

But let's be brave - a lot of people are worried the election will be stolen by the party in power. What makes one think they would stop at anything at this point in the Bush-Cheney charade? After all, it wouldn't be the first time. Said Ho-Ho:

"It won't be stolen in Vermont 'cause we don't use those machines that you can hack into.  But, sure, there's some worry around the country in some spots. We've already found some voting irregularities and we have a huge task force of 7500 attorneys who can be at any poll in America within a matter of minutes. We have a toll-free number: 1-800-DEM-VOTE. But again in Vermont I don't expect anything like that. We run our elections pretty well up here."

Is the Democratic Party Chairman surprised the party is doing so well?

"Look, tomorrow is the only poll that counts. So I feel good about it, but I feel like we still have a lot of work to do - 36 more hours."

"What do you want to be when you grow up?" we asked. (Got to keep them off-balance, on their toes.)

Dean laughed aloud. The laughs have come easier lately.

"Good question," he said with a smile.

No problem. That's my job. Howard.

Never did get an answer.

That’s Democratic U.S. House hopeful Peter Welch’s newly famous campaign-commercial pooch in the background - “Pepper.” 

The mug in the foreground belongs to a behind-the-scenes "old dog" of Vermont politics - Luke Albee. Been catching Ol’ Luke this time of year - every two years - for two decades. By way of historical reference, that's back before email was part of daily life. Back in those "dark" days when only the “odd” dog owners bothered to bend over and pick up dog shit by hand. Now they almost all do. Never say progress is impossible. People are trainable!

Twenty years ago was the year of the Democrat Sen. Patrick Leahy vs. Republican Richard Snelling mano-a-mano clash in Vermont's U.S. Senate showdown. Young Luke, son of the late, great, trailblazing UVM Psychology Prof. George Albee, was a cog in St. Patrick’s landslide machine. Along with Mary Beth Cahill the campaign manager, Deb Graham, the  press secretary, and strategist John Podesta, the four jelled like no other campaign team we’ve ever seen. They had a lot of fun doing it, too. And that November 1986 night, St. Patrick blew away King Richard 63-34 percent. 

Fast forward 20 years. Mary Beth Cahill’s gone on to hit the national spotlight as Sen. John Kerry’s presidential campaign manager. I know. Can’t win them all.

John Podesta ended up serving as President Bill Clinton’s last White House chief of staff. He then was president and founder of the Center for America Progress.

Deborah Graham, who became Deborah Kimbell, became the longtime communications director at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center.

And Luke Albee went on to become Sen. Leahy’s chief-of-staff on Capitol Hill for 11 fricken years. As the face in the photo shows, he’s aged gracefully on the Capitol Hill frontlines in the age of Monica Lewinsky, 9/11 and George W. Bush. But Luke, a father of four, has college tuitions ahead. Last year he departed Leahy’s staff to become one of those savvy Inside-the-Beltway political consultants.

Ol’ Luke, 47,  was out sign-waving with other Ds on Dorset Street in South Burlington this morning when we talked to him on his cellphone.

“Voters have a chance to once again make a difference in the course of this nation,” said Albee. "The Peter Welch House race," he insists, "is as important as any race in this country.” Ol’ Luke says  “thousands” of Vermonters have turned out this autumn to volunteer on the various campaigns up and down the ticket. Indeed, Democratic HQ on Burlington's Battery Street has always been jumping. Clearly, folks have gotten “pretty serious about changing the direction of the country,” he said.

And when it comes to Congress, noted the Dorset Street morning-rush, sign-waver, even a small state like Vermont gets to carry some very serious weight. The fact is, Vermont has as many seats in the United States Senate as California and New York do. And every single seat in the GOP-controlled House of Representatives is going to count big time, noted Albee. No wonder rookie Republican House-hopeful Marvelous Martha Rainville is running as fast as she can away from her chosen Republican Party and its leader - President George W. Bush. Never mentions their names anymore. Wow!

Funny. They were all very cozy together just three months ago. One’s just gotta do what one’s gotta due, eh? The end justifies the means?

And what’s ahead for the U.S. Senate when Independent Rep. Bernie Sanders moves over from the U.S. House in January?

“In the past,” said Ol’ Luke, “the Senate had characters, quirky members who each brought something different to the table.  But lately," said Albee, “they’ve been blow-dried corporate creations. It’s fair to say, the U.S. Senate hasn’t seen anything like Bernie Sanders. Ever!”

And if there was any doubt of the importance of November 7, go to ABC News and watch and/or read what Vice President Dick Cheney actually said to George Stephanopoulos yesterday. And people say Saddam Hussein's got brass balls, eh?

Vietnam flashback time, folks!

I remember how peace demonstrators were painted by the liars-in-charge as supporting the communist Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese enemy.  To be a "patriot" meant one had to support, without question, whatever flawed and dishonest policy the Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon White Houses ordered. History tells us that the antiwar peace protesters actually were the only ones truly supporting the troops (and a lot of our troops started realizing that in 1968.)

Hearing V.P. Cheney Sunday was like deja vu all over again. Our vice president  - who missed Vietnam with draft deferment after draft deferment - said some pretty amazing stuff. Trust you’re sitting down? Here’s the opening and the close. For the entire interview go here.

STEPHANOPOULOS: You said this week that it's your belief that the insurgents are trying to influence the election. Does that mean that a Democratic victory is a victory for the insurgents?

CHENEY: Well, I think what they're trying to do, obviously, is execute on their strategy. And, if you think about their strategy, it isn't to defeat us militarily; they can't do that. But what they're betting on — Osama bin Laden talks about it — is that they can, in fact, ultimately break the will of the American people, that they can persuade enough Americans that we'll ultimately leave.

And the close....

STEPHANOPOULOS: You've got two years left -- about -- in office. What's the single most important thing you want to accomplish?

CHENEY: Well, I think it's going to continue to be a focus on the global war on terror. It's going to continue to emphasize what we're doing overseas in places like Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as the other places we're operating. It'll be our continued efforts to protect the nation from another attack.

We've gone over five years now without another attack on the U.S. That's a major success story. It didn't happen by accident. It happened because we did, in fact, aggressively pursue things like the terrorist surveillance program, like questioning of detainees and the military commissions that we got through the Congress just recently.

All of those measures need to be continued and will be continued with this president, and offer us the best opportunity to be able to defend the country against further attack.

Scary. However, what kind of policy would one expect from successful Vietnam War draft dodgers? History has a way of repeating itself. It's a little too late in life for these guys to change, eh?

Republican Lt. Gov. Brian Dubie told yours truly the reason his official Lite-Gov schedule does not mention his February 2005 trip to Hawaii with his two teenage sons and brother Mike, the National Guard general and his family, is that the law requires him to turn over his schedule ”as is”. And "as is" means he can't add Hawaii later on.

Got that?

Doobie-Doo released his official schedule this week in response to a public records request from his Democrat challenger Matt Dunne. Once the Not-to-be-Undone Camp got it, they zeroed in on the Hawaii trip and issued an attack press release. “Odum,” sorry, John Odum,  over at the Green Mountain Daily blog (on the right) jumped on it on Friday.

On Saturday, Brian Dubie staunchly defended his 2005 in-session winter vacation. His brother Mike Dubie was just wrapping up his tour in the Iraq war zone and asked if they could have a family get together.

“I took four days,” said Lt. Gov. Dubie, “and my regret is that my sons miss too much of family time.”

Lt. Gov. Dubie spoke to us via cellphone while doing a roadside campaign sign & wave from outside of Staples Plaza in South Burlington late Saturday afternoon.

“I am accountable,” said Dubie, adding, “I wish I had more time with my family.”

Doobie-Doo's schedule for that February 2005 week shows him presiding over the State Senate and attending the funeral of State. Sen. Julius Canns.  He actually did neither. Asked why the Lite-Gov schedule did not mention the fact he was actually on a  “Hawaii Vacation,” Dubie replied, “Why should it?”

Interesting.

Never been in Montpeculiar that early on a Sunday morning before. At least not that we remember.

Simply had to get up and out this morning. Antsy.  Tuesday's election. Just couldn't sit any longer in front of the bloody computer and the gobshite TV and phone. I know, I know... Ho-Ho, aka Howard Dean, was a scheduled guest on ABC with George Stephanopoulos, but, so what?   I can read the transcript when I get back.

And besides, needed my Harrar coffee beans from Capitol Grounds. Without a refill, I'd be out by Tuesday and Tuesday we write the print column and need our fricken beans in stock!

Only one dead deer on the side of the Interstate. And a trooper running radar on the northbound Bolton Flats.

Our state capital was nearly empty of human animals. Got to Capitol Grounds about 8:30.  Quiet. Crowded. A slow but steady line. I started eight back. Struck up a nice conversation-in-line with a friendly, middle-aged snowboarding instructor en route to a Sugarbush indoor-training class. He said he didn't start boarding until he was 40 - 12 years ago. Used to be strictly regulated if not banned at respectable resorts!

Now, he said, about 50 percent of the "ski crowd" on the mountain are on them.

We do miss the high ceiling of the former Capitol Grounds establishment when it was on the other side of the river in the old bank building. Pretty much a - dare I say - older, non-talkative crowd today, engrossed in their Sunday papers and laptops. Had the feel of a church library. So we took our free coffee (with every bean purchase) and went for a spin on foot around the rather empty and quiet streets of the state capital of Vermont on a sunny, chilly Sunday morning. And "discovered" the Langdon Street Cafe...and Nutty Steph and Julie and Michael C.,  a blast from the past. Nice people. First time I've been there. Didn't know it was there. Cozy. I like joints where strangers feel they can easily break the ice. Good chat. Hey, we're not here for a longtime, we're here for a good time, right? Our find of the month!

And Nutty Steph has her own granola business in Montpeculiar!

Anything to get my mind off Tuesday's election for a few hours. Got to get out of Burlap more.

Now back to reality - Dubie update coming....

6:20 P.M. UPDATE: "OAKHENGE?" ...plus Marvelous Martha campaign-volunteer caller taped saying a "dirty" word and... will that Feb. 2005 Hawaii trip come back to bite our Lite-Gov?  (scroll down)

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"I think we recognize the troublesome environment," said successful Vermont Republican Party chairman, executive director and spinmeister Jim Barnett.

Why is that?

"People are concerned with Washington," he told us on Friday in a rare candid "on-the-record" moment. "Clearly," said the youngest (30) state GOP chairman in America, "the President is not the most popular guy in Vermont."

Can't argue with Mad Dog on that, can you? He sounds like he's seeing things as crisply and clearly as this rather dignified gull we chatted up the other day on the reclaimed "Waterfront for the People" in beautiful Burlington.

And President George W. Bush of Texas has earned it, hasn't he? After all, the record is perfectly clear: he lies, he cheats and he steals. So much so, that he's got lifelong GOP ticket-punchers like Jim Douglas and newcomers like Martha Rainville distancing themselves from the Bush-Cheney Team and the GOP congressional "leadership."

Eyebrows were raised by the last-minute infusion of a $100,000 mass-mailing for the Guv by the Republican Governor's Association on Friday. Wasn't Gov. Scissorhands up 10 points over Scudder Parker in the last public poll?

And the Lite-Gov race has turned into a real doozy. Democrat challenger Matt Dunne has made Republican, pro-life, airline pilot Brian Dubie, not only sweat, but go negative with a cute little attack-back TV ad, questioning Not-to-be-Undone's state senate attendance record!

Insiders on both sides seriously think this one could go either way. It all depends on the size of next Tuesday's Tsunami - the "Throw the Bush-Team Republican Bums Out" Tsunami!

The word in the inner circle is a "4" would take down Lt. Gov. Brian Dubie. A "5" and Jim Douglas will be getting some time off, too.

I know I declared Bernie Sanders the winner early in the U.S. Senate race. Couple months ago. Not hard to do.  But I've been very reluctant and nervous to say anything about how the rest of it will go. Don't want to jinx it. The stakes are too high!

But there's some serious evidence popping up all over that makes one think Tuesday's Tsunami is going to be a biggie. One indication of just how widespread the loss of faith and trust in the corrupt Bush-Cheney regime is, can be seen by the loss of the American military's loyalty.

Are you sitting down?

In their Monday editorials, the Army Times, Air Force Times, Navy Times and Marine Corps Times  will stand united in calling for the resignation of Secretary of Defense Donald "Weapons of Mass Destraction" Rumsfeld. President "I Never Said 'Stay the Course'" said just this week he wants Rumsfeld to stay in charge another two years. Madness at the top, eh?

Here is the end of the editorial and a link:

Time for Rumsfeld to go

It is one thing for the majority of Americans to think Rumsfeld has failed. But when the nation's current military leaders start to break publicly with their defense secretary, then it is clear that he is losing control of the institution he ostensibly leads.

These officers have been loyal public promoters of a war policy many privately feared would fail. They have kept their counsel private, adhering to more than two centuries of American tradition of subordination of the military to civilian authority.

And although that tradition, and the officers' deep sense of honor, prevent them from saying this publicly, more and more of them believe it.

Rumsfeld has lost credibility with the uniformed leadership, with the troops, with Congress and with the public at large. His strategy has failed, and his ability to lead is compromised. And although the blame for our failures in Iraq rests with the secretary, it will be the troops who bear its brunt.

This is not about the midterm elections. Regardless of which party wins Nov. 7, the time has come, Mr. President, to face the hard bruising truth:

Donald Rumsfeld must go.

At 10 a.m this morning at Blanchard Beach in Burlington (right next to Gasoline Vallee's gasoline storage tanks by Oakledge Park) a Stonehenge-like Earth Clock will be dedicated.  Article in the Freeps.

Good timing.

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*UPDATE*

Couple things:

1. Pedaled down to the Earth Clock stone-raising at Oakledge Park this morning. Even stood in the circle. Held hands. Did a wee chant with wonderful strangers. Lovely. A Yank playing bagpipes and a Brit and a Scotsman. Love the "accents." Check out the Circles for Peace website here. And do make a visit to  the real site. Those adjacent gasoline storage tanks, by the way, belong to the company the current U.S. Ambassador to Slovakia has long had a stake in. Nice guy. A Vermont kid. Did pretty good for himself, eh?

2. Welch for Congress is having a good laugh over a Rainville for Congress voice-mail left by a Rainville campaign volunteer phone caller. "Republican" is now Dirty Word #1 over in Marvelous Martha Land. She's an independent.  George W. Who?

3. The Blogosphere - Reason and Brimstone - is where the news about U.S. House Candidate Rainville's stolen quotes broke. Now a segment of the "local" blogosphere is roaring over Lt. Gov. Brian Dubie's official Lite-Gov schedule, recently released in response to a freedom of info request from Camp Matt Not-to-be-Undone. On that February 2005 week, Dubie's schedule says he was in Montpeculiar.

He wasn't. He was in Hawaii with brother Mike (the current Vermont Guard adjutant general) and two of his high-school age sons. Though "on vacation," Brian the American Airlines pilot managed to get himself in the local paper while wearing his Lite-Gov of Vermont hat. The Matt Dunne Campaign's been trying to sell it to the mainstream press. So far no bites, eh?

The story was first up online yesterday at Green Mountain Daily. (Both have links on the right.) Also up today on a new one pour moi - Rhetoric 101 - over here. About a February visit to Hawaii in 2005 by the Dubie boys, er, men.

If you haven't been there, do check it out.

More later....

I couldn’t believe it either.

I just turned on “The Mark Johnson Show” on WDEV at 9:17 a.m. this morning. Actually, I connected online since I get such a crappy radio signal here at the Burlington ranch. Didn’t know who was on today. Turned out to be the governor of the great state of Vermont by car phone from Bennington County!

That’s where Gentleman Jim Douglas was campaigning for reelection to a third term, accompanied by Lite-Gov. Brian Dubie and Auditor Randy Brock.

I hear the name of “Mark Foley” mentioned by Mr. Johnson. That would be the Florida congressman (Republican) who just resigned over the sex scandal with the underage congressional pages. A couple weeks ago, out-of-nowhere, Gov. Scissorhands fed Darren Allen over at the Rutland Herald/Times Argus some spiel about how “disgusted” he was with the behavior of his fellow Republicans in Washington. It was "abandon ship" time for Republicans like Jim who were worried about reelection: "Douglas scorches Bush, national GOP brass."  Here's a taste:

Douglas usually demurs from criticizing his Washington GOP brethren, particularly President George Bush. But not this week. "I certainly don't want to imply that only the congressional branch of government is at fault," he said. "Both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue are caught up in scandal to some extent, and I don't want to suggest that the executive branch is excluded from responsibility for the breakdown of ethical standards." He said that with Congress reeling from scandals ranging from the financial to the sexual, he has become more disillusioned than at almost any time in his 30-year political career.

"I'm appalled, I'm discouraged, I'm offended and, frankly, as someone who's been in office for many years, it's awful to see how some people who are given the public trust can breach it," Douglas said. "It's not exclusively a Republican problem down there, but it certainly seems that those caught up are predominately Republicans."

Very, very unusual for Jim Douglas, the Vermont chairman of the Bush-Cheney campaigns in 2000 and 2004, to criticize the White House. No one walks a fine line better on the public stage than Vermont's Jimmy D, and he’s been walking it since the early 1970s.

Sounded like Friday morning's  Mark Johnson interview was providing a rare moment, indeed, these days. You see, regular weekly press conferences are something Vermont’s governor has actually NOT been doing since before the leaves turned!

So we catch the host asking the Governor about the Bush scandals on Friday morning:

WDEV: Well, why haven’t you spoke out about that sooner? Some of those scandals have been going on for quite some time?

Governor: Well, I answer questions that I’m asked by the media.

WDEV. You’ve never been asked about that stuff before?  Is that what you’re claiming to me this morning?

Governor: Well, I can’t remember. I answer questions that I’m asked.

WDEV: Huh. My recollection is that Peter Freyne asks you about every week to make some sort of comment about the Bush administration or the Republican-led Congress?

Governor: Well, most of Peter’s questions are about Iraq. He seems to be mono-focused on that.

Really?

You see, it’s been weeks, no, make that months now since the governor of Vermont even scheduled a “Governor’s Weekly Press Conference.” He may have done a couple photo-opportunity-type “press availabilities," but the regular, standard, incoming questions from the Fourth Estate have been something we simply haven’t experienced.

A quick check with other Montpeculiar reporters indicates no one can remember when Gov. Jim Douglas actually held his last “regular weekly press conference.”

So, I scrolled back down on the page I use to write my WDEV radio news stories. Covering the Guv’s “weekly” has been part of my regular regimen since before gray hair. It’s a Vermont tradition. However, lately things have changed. Last one I have a script for was filed on Thursday August 31 -  more than two months ago.

Interesting, eh?

I also notice that on that same day, August 31, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Scudder Parker - for the second consecutive week - tried to engage and upstage Gov. Douglas by calling a presser of his own at the Statehouse an hour or two before the “Governor’s Weekly.”

Smart tactical move on Scudder’s part to toss down the gauntlet and force Gov. Jim to respond directly to the challenger.

But it looks like the incumbent decided that would be enough of that. Gov. Scissorhands, according to our old scripts, hasn’t permitted it to happen since. Look, if the Guv ceases scheduling a  "regular weekly press conference," Ol’ Scudder can’t schedule one of his own to precede it.

Smart move, eh?

But, Gov. Douglas, what’s with taking a cheap shot at me on The Mark Johnson Show?

Hello?

Just because I have been one of the few members of the press to dare question you - every few months  - on your latest position regarding the bloodbath in Iraq and the lies of George W. Bush and Dick Cheney that got us there, does not mean I am “mono-focused.”

Tell it to the parents, the wives and children of the Vermonters who’ve died for those lies, eh? To the soldiers who came home alive, but will never be the same?

And wouldn't it be great if both in Washington, D.C. and Montpeculiar, Vermont, we had elected leaders who made "focusing on the truth" one of their top priorities?

One day, eh?

A whole lot of people on pins and needles, but I'm telling you, we are going to get through this, one for all and all for one!

Quite simply, we have all had it with the most corrupt, dishonest  and incompetent American administration since Washington crossed the Delaware.

"And this small state," said soon-to-be Independent U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, "by example, is going to lead the country."

Hope everyone's ready, eh?

Big noontime crowd at the Unitarian Church in Burlington on Thursday for the passionate, upbeat "Bernie & the Democrats" pep rally (350-400). House Speaker Gaye Symington got things going as the master of ceremonies. She's slowly getting better at it. In fact, the buzz is building over her gubernatorial ambitions. Lots of folks wondering about Secretary of State Deb Markowitz having similar ambitions, too.

I know, what about Scudder Parker? Wish I knew. He took some kind of little shot at "the liberal press" during his rally address today. Don't think he was referring to the Freeps?  Maybe the Rutland Herald/Times Argus and the Brattleboro Reformer coming out for his incumbent Republican rival, Gov. Jim Douglas, earned the smack.

I know - the Brattleboro Reformer? It didn't make a whole lot of sense.

Meanwhile, Lite-Gov challenger, State Sen. Matt Dunne, continues to gain momentum and name-recognition. He certainly has gotten Doobie-Doo's attention. Not-to-be-UnDone was positively delighted to tell us about a negative Brian Dubie TV attack ad that started running on Wednesday. However, he said Doobie-Doo filmed the wrong state senate seat - it wasn't his!

Anyway, for the pros in this game, it's the season when the folks behind the scenes get a little credit. In Ol' Bernardo's case, two on the list are Phil Fiermonte and Jeff Weaver (with the cell phone).

Weaver, the former Marine from Franklin County, is Bernie's experienced chief-of-staff on Capitol Hill. If my memory serves me, Weaver was Bernie's driver 20 years ago when he ran for governor.

Phil, a Newport, Vermont native, is the top-dog on the Sanderistas' Vermont staff, and a longtime key player in the Green Mountain State's unique and original Progressive political movement. Fiermonte's a former city councilor in Burlap, too. And I still remember meeting him on Election Night 1981 in the Burlington City Clerk's Office - the night longshot leftist Bernie Sanders won da' mayor's office by 10 votes. The night the miracle happened.

Each has been with Ol' Bernardo on-and-off, in one capacity or another since Ronald Reagan was president.

Yes, they're feeling pretty good the last few days as the impending reality starts to sink in. The New York Times even had a team in town today to interview their man. 

Yes, it's been a long road for these two Vermont kids. And the best is yet to come!

As Congressional hopeful Peter Welch put it today:

"People ask if Bernie Sanders is ready for the United States Senate. The real question is - 'Is the United States Senate ready for Bernie Sanders?'"

We'll see, won't we?

They move well together. Smoothly. Like an old couple. Two tall guys with white hair (where it grows) who were born way back during the bloodbath we call World War II.  One in Brooklyn, New York, one in Montpelier, Vermont. The Queen City on the Lake - Burlington, Vermont - brought them together and launched their political careers - one as state's attorney, one as mayor. And trust me - they're on the same page when determining good guys and bad guys.

Wednesday afternoon they stood shoulder-to-shoulder at Ol' Bernardo's Campaign HQ in Burlington. At the moment, they said, nobody can predict what'll happen next Tuesday, but, "The Democrats have a chance to win the Senate," said soon-to-be U.S. Senator Bernard Sanders.

That would make Patrick Leahy, the Montpeculiar kid, the new chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Please, God!

St. Patrick would also be #2 on Senate Agriculture and #3 on Senate Appropriations. The former Vermont county prosecutor (from the Richard Nixon, Vietnam War/Watergate era) has been working down there near Foggy Bottom one hell of a long time. Seniority, seniority, seniority.  Brighter days are coming. Said Leahy:

"I can’t think of anything that’s going to make me happier on January3rd than to walk down that center aisle of the United States Senate andwatch Bernie Sanders take that very moving oath of office as a UnitedStates Senator."

Sen. Sanders' committee assignments are yet to be determined.  Banking?  Foreign Relations? Environment? Veterans Affairs? Think anyone's worried?

Should be fun. Already the Brits are taking notice. "Vermont Poised to Elect America's First Socialist Senator" writes The Guardian in today's edition:

Amid the furious debate over Iraq and the speculation that George Bush may be a lame duck after next Tuesday's mid-term elections, an extraordinary political milestone is approaching: a cantankerous 65-year-old called Bernie looks set to become the first socialist senator in US history.

Bernie Sanders is so far ahead in the contest for Vermont's vacant seat for the US Senate that it seems only sudden illness or accident could derail his rendezvous with destiny, after eight terms as the state's only congressman. His success flies in the face of all the conventional wisdom about American politics.

The Guardian's Julian Borger took our advice and called John McClaughry. Hey, got to get both sides. Besides, Vermont's most vocal conservative sourpuss gives good bite.

We asked Bernie if his well-dressed and ineffective Republican opponent Richie Rich Tarrant had surprised him with anything he did in his grossly lavish and puzzling $7 million campaign. Replied Ol' Bernardo:

"To be honest with you, what Mr. Tarrant has done is runa pretty traditional, 2006 Karl Rovian-type campaign. He hasspent a great deal of money running what many people consider to be themost negative campaign in Vermont history. In this case it has not worked and I think in many ways it hasbackfired. But to tell you the truth I think we kind of anticipatedwhat would happen."

And in anticipation, Sanders had an extraordinary grassroots campaign effort. Vermont's all-time biggest.

"We knocked on close to 70,000 doors. We have 8000 individualcontributors...andwe have moblized close to 2000 volunteers. I think that’s something’sthat’s unprecedented and we’re very proud of that effort. What excites me very much is the turnouts have been phenomenal. There’sa lot of excitement. People are ready for change. They want to endone-party government."

Yes they do. Very, very, very much.

P.S. On today's plate: Big noontime rally for the Democrat/Independent ticket at the Unitarian Church in Burlington today. Pat & Bernie & Welchie. Scudder and Matt Dunne, too.

Meanwhile, Republicans appear to be laying rather low. Gov. Jim Douglas will, however,  be saying a few words at the Annual Governor's Conference on Recreation at Lake Morey at 4 p.m.