vt.Buzz ~ a political blog

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

2.25.2007

Head scratcher

Interesting letter to the editor in Saturday's Free Press. Click HERE if you missed it. It's the fourth letter from the top.

Chuck Lacy of Jericho takes on Senate President Pro Tempore Peter Shumlin for calling it a waste of time to take up gay marriage legislation when the governor doesn't support it. Chuck Lacy is, of course, the husband of House Speaker Gaye Symington.

Try as we might, we can't control all the actions of our spouses, but this one is a bit odd, particularly given that Symington's chamber is also not expected to pursue the gay marriage legislation.

What's next? Penny Dubie writing in to criticize Gov. Douglas?

- Terri Hallenbeck

posted by vt.Buzz | 8:01 PM |

Comments:

Well, we could talk about the social and political dynamics at play here ... about the fun this letter must have caused around the dinner table in Jericho ... about the Lacy's right to free speach v his obligation to his partner and her caucus ... about the fact that the marriage bill is kept pinned to the wall by none other than Chairman Lippert himself.

But at the end of the day, Chuck's right. There is nothing more to it than that.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 8:20 AM, February 26, 2007

Is Chuck's agenda to get Gaye to run for governor in 2008? Then the marriage bill would get signed.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 12:00 PM, February 26, 2007

Gaye Symington has to get Shumlin out of the way if she is to run for higher office - she is just making her move through her husband- ya gotta love that strategy!

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 12:27 PM, February 26, 2007

I've always wanted to hear Mrs. Jim Douglas' feelings on not having a dishwasher--Jim is always so proud of that...

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 1:33 PM, February 26, 2007

Symington doesn't have the TVQ to pull off any kind of statewide victory. It's shallow thinking, but TVQ is important in this day and age. She's not great on the stump either. Rather stilted and, frankly, boring.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 4:23 PM, February 26, 2007

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 4:23 PM, February 26, 2007

Yea, because that Jim Douglas is such an exciting guy.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 4:42 PM, February 26, 2007

For those of us not in the know, what is TVQ? It sounds like something that Barack Obama, say, has but Gaye Symington does not.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 4:44 PM, February 26, 2007

politics shmolitics, what about what Chuck Lacy actually said? let's debate the issue rather than talk about who is debating the issue.

gay men and lesbians deserve equal marriage rights. marriage should not be legally restricted to only heterosexuals.

i applaud Lacy and others for speaking out on this issue, rather than focusing on the politics of the issue.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 5:33 PM, February 26, 2007

Amen!

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 5:42 PM, February 26, 2007

Jim Douglas is staying at the White House tonight while in Washington for the National Governors' Association meeting. Isn't that enough to get any Democrat elected governor in 2008?

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 6:22 PM, February 26, 2007

Personally, I don't care if someone wants to marry a platypus. More power to you. Message to the gay community. African-Americans probably wish that state and federal governments would pay as much attention to poverty issues as you believe should be paid to issues revolving around the gay community. Should gay persons have the right to marry. No doubt. That would seem to be the principle foundation of America. But your issue, like ours, is a minority issue concerning a minority community. We've had to fight and scrape to get where we are. You've got civil unions in Vermont. That's a start. Immediate gratification ain't gonna come easily. Sorry. Vermonters are more conerned about taxes and jobs--for now anyway. Just my humble two cents.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 6:24 PM, February 26, 2007

Thanks for your humble two cents.

I have to disagree with an implicit argument that you're making, that somehow we have to balance the needs of poor African-Americans against the needs of civil rights of the gay and lesbian community. Let's do both, and by the way, let's partner together and support each other's causes.

As for marrying a platypus, that's a different issue entirely....

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 4:43 PM, February 27, 2007

Symington, Shumlin, Markowitz ....... bring on those oh so exciting democrats!!!!

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 10:13 AM, February 28, 2007

Every bit as exciting as Douglas, Doooobie and Brock.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 9:24 PM, February 28, 2007