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Political notes from Free Press staff writers Terri Hallenbeck, Sam Hemingway and Nancy Remsen


12.22.2006

 

Inaugural collision

Two things are scheduled to happen Jan. 4 that are on a collision course. There will be swearings-in going on in Washington at the same time as swearings-in are supposed to go on in Montpelier.

Gaye Symington, who would be at the front of the room to mark the inauguration of the governor and the state's other highest-ranking elected officials, has an invitation to attend the other event in Washington.

She's torn, she said today, but she's decided to go to Washington. (Rep.-elect Peter Welch offered Symington one of his two tickets to the festivities - the other will go to one of his children.)

Symington's decision has prompted Gov. Jim Douglas to look into (or have his staff look into) changing the state inaugurations to Jan. 5. We won't know until next week whether that will happen.

Douglas spokesman Jason Gibbs said going to D.C. instead of Montpelier for this state tradition is something the governor would never do, but he understands why Symington would want to.

Symington laid it out this way: The transition to Democratic control in the U.S. Capitol is
a historic change in direction she thinks Vermonters are celebrating and she wants to represent them there. She wants to represent Welch's former Statehouse colleagues during his moment in the sun.

As the only woman Democratic state House speaker in the country, Symington said she also wants to be there as Nancy Pelosi is the first woman to step into the country's third most powerful position.

Changing the Vermont ceremonies could be a logistical problem, given that it involves changing the schedules of everybody from school choir groups to former governors and the first lady, whose dental office had not scheduled any appointments for Jan. 4.

If the inaugural is changed to Jan. 5 and you develop a toothache, they'd probably be able to fit you in.

So tell us: Should the Vermont inaugurations of the governor, lt. gov., sec of state, treasurer, atty. general and brand-new auditor (including the governor's inaugural address) be pushed back a day or not? Is Symington out of line for going to D.C.? Is the governor making more hay of it by suggesting her absence calls for changing the schedule?

- Terri Hallenbeck

Comments:
Just take the oath quietly and get to work.

Nobody cares.
 
I agree. This is no big deal. Let her go, take the oath and just do it.

We have bigger stuff that needs to be taken care of. If Gaye isn't there, Shumlin will sit next to Dubie. Hahah. How weird is that.
 
Let her go - our business in Vermont is more important than Gaye Syminyton!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Overall, i dont think it matters. But I most certainly think that the symbol of ditching her state responsibilities to attend a change of power in Washington - the question that needs to be asked is if partsenship is far more important then starting out on the session on the right foot. How about the two parties figure out a way to work together and get something done.

On another thought, I've heard that Symington is considering an 08 run at Douglas. Is this one of her ways of saying "Douglas is small time?" Just a thought.

Happy Holidays everyone.
 
Just a pretty far out thought.
 
Can you really blame Symington for wanting to be there when Pelosi, the first woman speaker in history, is sworn in? Douglas is drawing attention to it in the way he usually does these things -- with total deniability. No doubt he's lined up the usual suspects to write letters to the editor for him, and nasty talk show hosts will do their darndest to pitch in. In the end, Douglas will say that he tried to accommodate Symington, but couldn't and will continue to find ways to point out the empty chair. That's who he is.

I hope she has a good time and comes back ready to kick his butt.

Green Mountain Boy
 
What's the big deal? The dates overlap and one has to choose. Perhaps even the Gov at some point might want to be present at a DC inauguration.

Does Douglas just want to put Symington on the spot in some way?
 
Symington is putting Symington on the spot. Is anyone making her choose DC over VT? But, hey, if Sen. Bartlett can travel to Asia during budget season, why not?....
 
What "spot" -- who cares ??

Take the oath and get to work.
 
Who needs Symington!- if she wants to run against Douglas in '08 let her - that would be a wonderful crash and burn!!
 
NEWS FLASH -- Symington will be Speaker of the House through 2010.

She isn't running for Governor. She's doing a great job as Speaker.
 
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