Freyne Land

The snow was melting fast on the Statehouse lawn Friday under a blazing bright sun and a clear blue sky. And there was plenty of sugar on snow in the form of fresh maple syrup over crushed ice, as top state officials were on hand for the ceremonial tapping of the “first” sugar maple by Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas. Joining in the pre-tapping speechifying with Douglas was fellow Republican, Lt. Gov. Brian Dubie (standing between the Guv and the tree), a fella who flies jet airliners and taps Vermont sugar maples, too.

"Us sugarmakers," said Dubie, "we really don't appreciate sunny days like this. We kinda like the clouds. We like the extremes."

Maybe it was the politician in him that then made him say, "We'll take whatever weather we will get, and we're appreciative of any of it, but we're hoping for a great season."

Next, Doobie-Doo threw out a line that sounded downright gubernatorial:

"And I'm gonna challenge you to do something for us sugarmakers, too. When you go into a high-falutin' hotel or restaurant and they serve you something that's brown and it's sweet, don't accept it if it's not the finest maple syrup grown in the world from Vermont. So I'd like to make you active consumers and to give the feedback if they're serving some table syrup or some corn syrup  or something else because we have to tell the great story that we have!"

Gov. Jim Douglas was, as usual, right on message and "global warming" was not in his remarks:

"Maple sugaring is an important part of our culture, our histroy, our tradition. It defines in many ways what we are as a people. It's also an important part of our economy. Estimates are that direct and indirect expenditures total nearly a quarter-billion dollars in our state on an annual basis. So we hope that we'll have another great year. We hope it'll be a good crop. We hope that the sap will flow generously and prodigiously."

As long a Jim Douglas occupies the Fifth Floor in Montpeculiar the "sap" will flow "prodigiously." That's for sure, eh?

And, apparently, our Guv doesn't read The New York Times, which reported in a March 3 feature titled "Warm Winters Upset Rhythms of Maple Sugar":

Dr. Tim Perkins (director of the Proctor Maple Research Center at UVM)  and Tom Vogelmann, chairman of the plant biologydepartment at the University of Vermont, said that while newsap-tapping technology is helping sugar makers keep up syrupproduction, for now, at some point the season will become so short thatlarge syrup producers will no longer get enough sap to make itworthwhile.

“It’s within, well, probably my lifetime that you’llsee this happen,” Professor Vogelmann said. “How can you have the stateof Vermont and not have maple syrup?”

Experts say gradualwarming has already contributed to a shift of syrup production toCanada, although other factors may be more responsible, includingCanadian subsidies, improved technology, and a decline in New Englandfamily farms.

“In the ’50s and ’60s, 80 percent of world’smaple syrup came from the U.S., and 20 percent came from Canada,” saidBarrett N. Rock, a professor of natural resources at the  University of New Hampshire.“Today it’s exactly the opposite. The climate that we used to have herein New England has moved north to the point where it’s now in Quebec.”

That's what following in the footsteps of Vermont's Republican Gov. Jim Douglas looked like about 1 p.m. today as he confidently strode into his large State House ceremonial office to face off with the press corps for about 45 minutes.

Piece of cake.

Nobody does it better. On message and supremely careful not to say that which he does not wish to say.

Oh, and that's Chief of Staff Tim Hayward to the Boss' left. Tim's been an in-the-trenches, behind-the-scenes Montpelier-type most of his political career. Hayward was a Marine Corps captain before getting a dude named Jim Jeffords elected to Congress in 1974. Subsequently, Tim was a right-hand man to the one-and-only King Richard, Earl of Shelburne, also known as Gov. Dick Snelling (before he dicks you!).

Since those Snelling days that faded away in the mid-1980s, Ol' Tim been with the Vermont  Bankers Association, their Statehouse lobbyist and recent president. He knows the game only too well and, it shows. Even brings a bag lunch to work. Hey, in his third term running a Republican administration in liberal/progressive Vermont.

Not bad!

In Washington the showdown of the day is between Vermont's Patrick Leahy, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and President George "WMD" Bush. Leahy wants Karl Rove and other White House aides to testify under oath regarding the firings of eight U.S. Attorneys for political reasons - like who they prosecuted and who they didn't.

President Bush says "No way."

The Emperor obviously lacks access to a mirror.

At today's presser we asked Gov. Scissorhands about the matter.

Press: “Obviously, you’re one of the leading Republicans in New England. I wondered if you agreed with Republican Sen. Sununu of New Hampshire who has already come out saying it’d be best if Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez resigned.  Where are you on that?”

Gov. Douglas: “Well, I’m very concerned about the politicizing of United States Attorneys Offices. That’s inappropriate. We have to have federal prosecutors, just as we need state prosecutors, who are doing their jobs enforcing the law, seeking justice, not being subject to political interference. I feel very strongly about that. I think it’s appropriate for the Congress to ask questions and to get some honest answers about what happened. I think we should let that process play itself out before, ah, before joining that kind of call.”

Press: “Do you believe there has been apparent lying. It’s been pretty well documented."

Gov. Douglas: "Well, I don’t think we should jump to conclusions. I think it’s appropriate for Congress to get the information.”

Press: “Do you think Karl Rove should have to testify under subpoena (i.e. under oath)?

Gov. Douglas: “Well, I don’t know what the right method is, but the Congress is entitled to get some honest answers.”

Press: “But you won’t say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ about whether he should have to appear under a subpoena?”

Gov. Douglas: “Well, I guess I’m not going to get into that much detail.”

Good guess.

As St. Patrick and nine other Democrats on the Judiciary Committee wrote in a letter to WH Council Fred Fielding on Thursday:

"Despite the initial White House statements to the contrary, it is now apparent that White House officials were deeply involved in the planning and execution of the firings, the consideration of replacements, and the subsequent misleading explanations from Justice officials."

Of course you do!

So go ahead and watch Vermont Congressman Peter Welch show his lawyerly experience as he cross-examines former oil industry lobbyist Philip Cooney who left the American Petroleum Institute to become chief of the Bush White House Council on Environmental Quality!

I’m not making this up. Who would believe it?

And the dude could sure edit! Especially if it was a document produced by our top climate-change scientists warning us about the inevitable.

Watch for yourself right here.

What this guy did was....criminal!

It looks like an airport, I know, but it's the lobby of the new Renaissance Center at the Mary Fanny (FAHC), the one Bill Boettcher went to jail for getting built.

I'm heading up in a few minutes. It's a Freyne Chemotherapy Day. That means 4-5 hours of five different chemicals going into the old vein. Kills the cancer cells and a few others, too.

Amazing.

Noticed the story in the Times Argus about State Sen. Peter Shumlin (D-Windham) saying the Bush Impeachment Resolution currently stalled in Speaker Gaye Symington's House of Representatives would have not been delayed flying through the Vermont Senate.

Yes, she is a Democrat, too, but what she's doing in politics remains an unanswered question in some minds.

Did a piece in the "Inside Track" column out today about that fundamental question: Why is Gaye Symington in politics if she doesn't want to play the game?

The Democratic Speaker's refusal - at a time like this - to take up the Bush Impeachment Resolution is just another example.

Yes, there are still "newspapers" made out of paper. Seven Days is one of them.  There's an "Inside Track" column to be written. And I've got several balls up in the air this sunny Tuesday morning as the world, including the Vermont world,  continues to turn.

Did want to post the adjacent photo we snapped last Thursday at the Statehouse. That's Burlington developer extraordnaire Ernie Pomerleau, son of Tony, enjoying a light moment with the Democratic state senator from Putney, Peter Shumlin, the man who would be governor.

Hasn't Ernie been a Douglas supporter?

That's Tom Torti, former Douglas environmental secretary and current head of the Lake Champlain Chamber of Commerce, over Ernie's shoulder. Tom's having a chat with Chittenden County State Sen. Jim Condos (D). The gang was heading out for some lunch.

If you get this Tuesday morning and can catch the U.S. Senate on C-SPAN, it's quite a show. The floor debate over outrageous Patriot Act powers granted the Attorney General last year to appoint USAs without  Senate approval is being led by Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy.

Looks like the tide is finally turning!

"Prevailing in Iraq is not going to be easy.  General Petraeus says thatthe environment in Iraq is the most challenging that he has seen in hismore than 32 years of service. He also says that he has been impressedby the professionalism and the skill and determination of our men andwomen in uniform.  He sees in our troops 'a true will to win and asincere desire to help our Iraqi partners achieve success.'

"Four years after this war began, the fight is difficult, but it can bewon.  It will be won if we have the courage and resolve to see itthrough.  I'm grateful to our servicemen and women for all they've doneand for the honor they brought to their uniform and their country.  I'mgrateful to our military families for all the sacrifices they have madefor our country.  We also hold in our hearts the good men and womenwho've given their lives in this struggle.  We pray for the loved onesthey have left behind.

"The United States military is the most capable and courageous fightingforce in the world.  And whatever our differences in Washington, ourtroops and their families deserve the appreciation and the support ofour entire nation.

"Thank you."

Above the words of lame duck President George "WMD" Bush from the closing of an eight minute script he read at 11:30 a.m. this morning in the White House - the 4th Anniversary of the U.S. Invasion of Iraq - the invasion based on lies, the invasion that he, a Vietnam War draft-dodger, ordered.

These photos were taken at the top of Burlington's Church Street wherea half-hour-long antiwar protest took place between 5 and 5:30 p.m. Mondayevening.

I counted 75 Vermonters lining the sidewalk in front of the Unitarian Church. The regular once-a-week antiwar vigils on Fridays normally attract only between five and a dozen stouthearted lovers of truth.

Happy anniversary.

What saith Vermont new and only member of the U.S. House of Representatives on this war anniversary day?

This from Vermont Congressman Peter Welch:

"The Iraq war is already longer than U.S. participation in World War II, World War I, the Korean War, or the Civil War, yet the President continues to disregard sensible advice even from top generals and clings to a failed policy.  The need for a change of direction has never been clearer. 

The Pentagon now acknowledges that Iraq is in a civil war.  The war has strained our military, challenging our ability to respond to new threats.  The human cost of the war has been high, with more than 3,100 U.S. casualties and tens of thousands more wounded.  And the cost to the American taxpayer is over $600 billion.

"The President has stubbornly said he will veto any measure that calls for a timetable for ending the war.  I will not support any legislation without a timetable to end the war.

"Congress must require accountability from the President and Iraq's leaders and provide the leadership necessary to end this war.  Four years into this war, it's time for Congress to challenge the President's open-ended commitment of U.S. troops to referee a civil war and provide a new course in Iraq.  We must end this war."

Before visiting the peace vigil at the top of Church Street, yours truly indulged the caffeine addiction at Uncommon Grounds. Read real newspapers, too. Two college students at the next table. Fine young men. Studying psychology.

Couldn't help but think they'd be somewhere else if the United States had a draft. In fact, the absence of the college-aged generation at the antiwar protest stuck out like a sore thumb.

Busy getting an "education," eh?

Up bright and early and I notice the "hot one"  The Burlington Free Press' all-girl Statehouse team of Nancy Remsen (l) and Terri Hallenbeck (r) have in the Monday edition called: "To understand the Douglas agenda, you need a glossary."

Amen, sisters!

I even had this nice shot in the can of the two Freeps' political reporters as they were teaming up on the loquacious gubernatorial spokesman Jason Gibbs last Thursday, right after Gov. Jim Douglas' weekly presser.

So this is what that was about, eh?

Cool.

By the way, that's the late, great Republican Gov. Deane Davis (1969-1973) on the wall between them. Deane Davis - the Republican who brought Vermont the sales tax and Act 250.

Can't imagine Republican Gov. Jim Douglas championing either, can you?

As Hallenbeck and Remsen put it:

Douglas speaks a special language when he talks about his political vision; he has names for everything. Jason Gibbs, his spokesman, said the terms often develop spontaneously during policy discussions. Gibbs described several "ah-ha" moments when a group of words suddenly became a useful way to describe a policy.

Ah, yes, the lifelong professional pol has clearly mastered the art of propaganda.  His words paint the nicest pictures - just ask Democrats Douglas Racine, Peter Clavelle and Scudder Parker.

"The Agenda of Affordability"

"Promise Scholarships"

"Global Commitment to Health"

I even put a line in there about how some readers might wonder about the Freyne Brain's health, what with yours truly writing something complimentary about my favorite Gannett-owned chain newspaper!

Which is when my right hand jumped from the mouse to the keyboard and, en route, knocked over the fricken' coffee cup. And you guessed it. Keyboard meet coffee!

I had a Kensington wireless for six months. Liked it. I work in a reclining position (the way the Romans would have) with the keyboard on my lap.

Life, you know, is not so much about what happens, as it is about how you handle what happens.

I certainly felt an inner urge to go completely nuts. Why?

Because my keyboard is the window into my computer and unable to make that connection, life is utterly useless! A complete waste of time!

Did I really say that?

I also realized life is full of challenges, and this was one of them. Don't panic. Make another coffee. Small Dog Electronics on Dorset Street opens at 10.

I was there 10 minutes early. In time to get this shot of Jane Murphy of Burlington, a retired nurse, who was there for the store opening. She was after some kind of doo-hickey for a flash-based drive transfer.

Beyond me.

But she did smile knowingly when I told her why I was there - her daughter had done  the cereal-and-milk  version of my coffee cup keyboard encounter, she told me. Turned the board upside down, got the hair dryer.

Same result - a trip to the computer store!

Now I've got a Made-in-China Logitech wireless. Eighty bucks.

Expensive coffee, eh?

*Freyne Brain Update:

As for the Sunday afternoon brain scan at the Mary Fanny (FAHC), behold the Philips MRI 3T  - the latest in big German-made magnets that are used to see inside the human brain and body. Cutting edge technology, as they say, and this one is the first 3T in Vermont.

That's MRI Technologist Marcia Ryan, and yes I did go in and stick my head in a little cage and most of my body got slid into that little hole in the MRI machine in the next room

Since writing about my first MRI a couple weeks ago, I've heard from folks who've been there. Several asked about music.

The first MRI machine that checked the Freyne Brain - a mobile unit out at Fanny Allen - had no musical option. This one did, and Marcia got me the headphones (hadn't been much demand.)

Unfortunately, she didn't have the classical cd and the jazz one just wasn't my kind of jazz. So I winged it with the ear plugs. Took 40 minutes. Less noisy that the first MRI.  Better ear plugs. Almost dozed off halfway through.

Next time, I'm bringing my own music.

This MRI was for checking chemical levels in the brain. Comparing my slightly shiny left-front temporal, language-center lobe with another spot.

I trust all the LSD from 1970-72 is gone, eh?

Lovely white St. Paddy's Day in Vermont. I know, the designated color is green not white, but it's not up to us, is it?

It's not like one can subpoena the Weather Goddess and put her under oath.

But Patrick J. Leahy, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee made it perfectly clear Sunday morning to George Stephanopoulos and those watching "This Week" on ABC-TV that he will subpoena the president's political guru Karl Rove and any White House official he has to in order to get to the truth that explains why eight United States Attorneys were fired by the Bush White House. We're supposed to be a "nation of laws," not a "nation of political paybacks."

Once the chief law enforcement officer in Chittenden County, Vermont, Leahy, a former state's attorney, appeared with a leading Texas Republican on the Judiciary Committee, one who has long had a close relationship with George W. Bush, and that would be former Texas Supreme Court Justice and Attorney General John Cornyn. Cornyn is also part of the Senate GOP Leadership Team.

Here's a taste:

Sen. Cornyn: "The problem is, and I’ve joined Sen, Leahy in this in saying the explanation was botched from the outset...

"I don’t believe there was any evidence these individuals were relieved of their responsibilities for any inappropriate reason. Having said that, I’ve told the attorney general that I think this has been mishandled, that by giving inaccurate information, by not giving complete information to Sen. Leahy and the Judiciary Committee on which I serve at the outset, has caused a real firestorm and he better get the facts out there."

Sen. Leahy: "The problem, George, goes beyond that. He has, ah, you hear one statement and the next day in the press it’s something else. Then the attorney general or somebody else from the administration comes up and  [says] ‘I’ll brief all of you and now you have the whole story.'

"Next day, we pick up the paper and it’s changed. yet again. That’s why I intend to have these people come up, testify under oath  before the Judiciary Committee which has both Republicans and Democrats on it. Let’s us ask them the questions and find out what’s going on. I am sick and tired of getting a briefing one day and being told, ‘Mr. Chairman, that’s the whole statement,’ and [reading something different in the paper the next day.]

Sen. Cornyn: "The kinds of questions Sen. Leahy wants answered, I think are legitimate questions. I want the answers to those questions, too. But I think we have to be careful here. When the leader of the effort is the chairman of the Democrats Senatorial Campaign Committee, Sen. Chuck Schumer, I think it undermines the apparent legitimacy of what is a legitimate inquiry."

Sen. Cornyn noted the DSCC was using the US Attorneys Firing Scandal to raise money on their website.

Shocking!

A little more of an issue of substance than, shall we say, that of presidential fellatio?

Sen. Leahy: "George, I’ve been on the Republican Senate Campaign Committee’swebsite a lot of times, and they’ve raised a lot of money on me. And,you know, it kept me down to 74 percent of the vote in my last election!

"The fact is Chuck Schumer has asked very legitimate questions. Butultimately, I’m the chairman of the committee. I intend to have thesesubpoenas."

George then asked Sen. Cornyn if he has a problem with issuing Rove a subpoena to testify under oath.

Sen. Cornyn: "We have issued subpoenas and I agree with that for theDepartment of Justice officials. Let’s get the information from them.

"You know, they want to cut to the chase and let’s get Karl Rove there and have a political circus. I don’t think that helps."

Sen. Leahy: "You understand, what we’re talking about is theauthorization for the subpoenas. I issue them only if we don’t getcooperation."

Kind of nice to have a guy, a guy who's eaten at Burlap's Oasis Diner for decades, calling the shots, eh?  Exercising the constitutional checks and balances?

Democracy.

A beautiful thing when it's working.

Got our 'tis the eve of St. Paddy's Day reminder this morning at the Williston Rest Area coffee stop. The hard-working woman pictured at left pulled in just after me with an interesting commodity in the back of her pickup truck - newspapers. And they were newspapers we'd never seen before.

The "Vermont Shopper." Comes out of Barre twice-a-month. Front page story on drunk driving, Struck up a little chit-chat.  She was going to drop off a bundle at the rest stop. Also is a sales rep for the Shopper. Hey, competition for Seven Days...and The Burlington Free Press, eh?

Introduced ourselves. Ladies and gentlemen, meet Judy Collins of Montpelier (not the singer).

"That's not an Irish name?" we asked jokingly.

Oh, yes it is. And she told us she did see "Michael Collins" the movie with Liam Neeson in the lead role.

Told Judy about how dear old dad and Uncle Peter had worked for Mick Collins back in 1920-21. The original Irish Republican Army - Second Battalion Dublin Brigade.  The "Collins" name has always grabbed our attention - more than just a summertime cocktail aka "Tom Collins" in the Freyne home on Maple Street in the 1950s and 1960s.

Speaking of St. Patrick's Day, we have it from a reliable source that Finnegan's Pub on College Street in Beautiful downtown Burlap will open at 8 a.m. on Saturday morning. The doorman's not due until 10. Best wishes.

Even when I was drinking, I made a point of taking St. Patrick's Day off. Green beer?

Disgusting.

Then there's the predicted St. Patrick's Day Snowstorm that the press and city officials are going ga-ga over. Burlington's Commander Tow-and-Ticket (or is is Ticket-and-Tow?)  has already sent out his email declaring street-parking bans on both Friday AND Saturday nights in Vermont's largest city:

And, yes, we did make it to the Statehouse for Speaker Gaye Symington's "Brown Bag Lunch" at noon with the press - you know, the gathering in the Speaker's Office at which coffee cups, but no brown bags, are seen.

Today Speaker Gaye the Democrat (shown above) blabbed on and on for almost an hour with seven Statehouse reporter types: two from the Freeps, two from the Vermont Press Bureau, one from VPR, one from the Associated Press, and me. No Ch. 3 and no Ch.5.

Her political adviser, Bill Lofy, and executive assistant, Alexandra MacLean, also sat in.

Don't know what the rest of the gang will glean from the "Crossover Day" Symington Hour, but yours truly left the room once occupied by Walt Freed (R), Mike Obuchowski (D), and the legendary Ralph Wright (D) with the inescapable question spelled out in neon lights inside the Freyne Brain:

"Why did this nice, caring, good-hearted person strive for and win a quarterback position in a contact sport she refuses to play - a game called politics?"

P.S. Speaking of the Freyne Brain, Dr. Paul Penar the neurosurgeon called this morning to let us know that, after consultation with other docs, there was agreement that there was no evidence of a tumor inside the Freyne Brain.  The shiny area on the brain scan could be something that's been cooking in  the old columnist's language center for many years. Just to be sure, however, the Doc  wanted us to take one more high-tech test - a magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy. This afternoon, his assistant called to see if we could do one on Sunday.

Short notice.

Only have one brain - no problemo.

What is MR spectroscopy?

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses radio waves and a strong magnetic field instead of X-rays to provide pictures of the brain. MR spectroscopy uses graphs to study abnormalities of the brain.
How does the exam work?

MRI is a unique exam. Unlike standard X-rays, radioisotope studies, and even CT scanning, it does not rely on radiation. Instead, MRI uses radio waves and a strong magnetic field to create sharp pictures – even different types of tissue within the same organ can be seen. An MRI exam most often consists of two to six sets of pictures, each lasting 2 to 15 minutes.

Look, a number of folks have been telling me my brain is "abnormal " since childhood.

Runs in the family.

Yes, indeed. That’s Vermont's Sen. Patrick Leahy this morning, presenting Tom Curley, head honcho at the Associated Press, with a copy of the Green Mountain State's political best-seller  “Dateline Vermont” by Christopher Graff.

And, yes, that’s the same Chris Graff who was Vermont’s AP bureau chief one year ago when Mr. Curley, a former president and publisher of USA Today, fired him because he distributed St. Patrick’s “Sunshine Week” column to subscribers of the Vermont Associated Press wire.

In response to a "Freyne Land" request, Leahy's Capitol Hill office provided a copy of the brief exchange between Pat and Tom over events of one year ago that occurred Wednesday morning in Leahy's Judiciary Committee. The topic?

"Open Government: Reinvigorating the Freedom of Information Act."

LEAHY:  "Mr. Curley, about a year ago, during Sunshine Week, I wrote an op-ed piece, I don’t know if you had a chance to read it or not, on FOIA.  Would you agree or disagree with a conclusion I reached that in the last six years it has been more and more difficult under FOIA?"

CURLEY:  "I . . . absolutely, and there are many facts to support that, sir."

LEAHY:  "Thank you.  I’ve been asked to give you a copy of a book written by a former AP reporter. I won’t elaborate further on it, but you may want to glance at it, from Vermont.  If you want to add a book review for the record, feel free."

CURLEY:  "All news is local and understood."

LEAHY:  "Well, you know it’s especially important in Vermont where you are, where the Associated Press, not only in Vermont but in many states, has become the overriding wire service.  And we have to rely on you.
    "But I also, and I’ll close with this, I’ve said over and over again, we, we Americans, are not here to serve the government.  It’s the other way around; the government’s here to serve us.  And the government, no matter what administration it is, will always tell you everything they’re doing that they’re proud of.  I want to make sure we know those things where they make mistakes.  And so we can correct them.  Not so we can play ‘gotcha,’ but so we can correct them.  And I think FOIA can be one of the greatest tools Americans have, but it can be awful if we don’t use it."

Here’s how St. Patrick ended his 2006 Sunshine Week column - the one that got Chris Graff sacked:

“Sunshine Week invites an inventory check on tools like the Freedom of Information Act that make real the public's right to know. Attacks on these tools only erode that right. A free, open and accountable democracy is what our forefathers fought and died for, and it is the duty of each new generation to protect this vital heritage and inheritance.”

Yes, indeed, and don't ever forget it!