vt.Buzz ~ a political blog

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

2.13.2007

Making waves

Rep. William Canfield, R-Fair Haven, simply wanted to explain why he had voted against a resolution calling for an orderly withdrawal of American military forces from Iraq. He and other opponents didn't like the message it would send to the troops. Canfield also said it seemed more appropriate for the state's Congressional delegation to make statements about foreign policy rather than --- and here is where he got in trouble --- the Vermont Legislature trying to "microwave" Washington.

Democratic House Speaker Gaye Symington raised her eyebrows and held up one finger in that universal sign for "there's an idea." All around the House, lawmakers considered Canfield's suggestion and applauded. They had just finished voting on a non-binding resolution, (final vote was 95-52 for passage) but, hey, microwaving "them" whoever the individual lawmakers had in mind, would be much more effective.

Canfield smiled at the effect, then repeated the sentence, saying the word he really intended -- micro-manage.

So DC, if the Vermont Legislature doesn't get your attention with this non-binding resolution about the majority's opposition to a troop buildup in Iraq, beware. There seemed to be a lot of consensus about this wave thing.

-- Nancy Remsen

posted by vt.Buzz | 3:55 PM |

Comments:

Canfield's had his head in a microwave too long.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 4:57 PM, February 13, 2007

Nice to know that our state legislature also sees fit to waste our money by debating irrelevant, non-binding legislation. I've opposed this war from the start but the VT legislature's stance on the war is completely irrelevant. They're just wasting our taxpayers by being in Montpelier and not doing anything.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 5:25 PM, February 13, 2007

I couldn't agree more. We send our legislature to hash out important issues for the benefit of our state. I'm sorry but non-binding resolutions make us sound like a bunch of whine asses. The problem is even though Vermont has troops in harms way, they, just like the rest of us are counting on the legislature to do its job. Plainly stated that is to go about the business of the state of Vermont, a resposibility to the state's inhabitants. Wasting our money making statements, for thats all they really are, they only distract from the work we need our legilators to do. We need a survey handed out at town meeting day and the top twenty issues that come up are the only ones allowed to be addressed by the legislature in the following session. Then at least we can be certain something productive will come from the session.

Rednalsi

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 7:49 PM, February 13, 2007

$60,000 a day to have the legislature in session. Lack of leadership from both Symington and Shumlin have produced exactly zero bills intended to help Vermonters with the issues they said were important...property taxes, jobs, energy, etc. These two are just wasting time and taxpayer dollars because they don't have the desire or nerve to cut taxes or address what we've told them to do. Remember the slogan of six years ago..."Remember in November" neither of these losers deserve to be the Governor they aspire to be.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 8:44 PM, February 13, 2007

If today's Vermont legislators had been in office in 1863, would they have supported a resolution calling on "President Lincoln and Congress to commence immediately the orderly withdrawal of Union military forces from the Confederate States of America"?

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 8:56 PM, February 13, 2007

Yea, because the Iraq War is exactly like the American Civil War.

No difference at all.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 8:30 AM, February 14, 2007

God forbid someone should speak out against this foolish war.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 12:13 PM, February 14, 2007

By all means Shumlin, Symington, all the rest of the legislators, the people of Vermont should speak out against this war. But do it in the right arena. The Iraq war has no place in the VT legislature. They're just wasting time with this. Does anyone really think that Shumlin likes what Bush is doing? The people of VT know that our legislators disagree with the President, but the fact is that it doesn't really matter all that much. Let Washington deal with what Washington is supposed to deal with and let's have the people in Montpelier do what they are there for.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 1:11 PM, February 14, 2007

So, GWB squanders hundreds of billions of dollars per year on a war that shouldn't have been waged --- but you scold the Vermont Legislature for wasting money?

Huh.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 1:29 PM, February 14, 2007

The beauty of this state is that your average Vermonter generally appreciates people who are willing to stick their neck out there for others. Unfortunately there are those misguided souls who feel that they must champion a large issue in order to capture media attention. Why has no one sponsored a statewide referendum vote on town meeting either denouncing or approving the war? Put the question to the people, their voice speaks louder than a bunch of angry legislators anyways. The problem is nobody is willing to go that far, they're all content with their talk. Stop pointing fingers under the golden dome and get some work done. If I didn't do the job I was supposed to do everyday I'd get fired, legislators please reassess your priorities and stick to them!

Rednalsi

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 2:25 PM, February 14, 2007

"So, GWB squanders hundreds of billions of dollars per year on a war that shouldn't have been waged --- but you scold the Vermont Legislature for wasting money?

Huh."

Obviously Bush deserves a ton of blame, but regardless that shouldn't excuse the legislature from wasting money too. The war was a huge mistake, but I don't understand what the legislature is accomplishing by debating this. I'm not saying that this is sending a bad message to the terrorists and all that other BS but I think it's just completely pointless. I see nothing being accomplished by the VT legislature debating a war resolution. I would rather they spend the time working on a solution for the health care crisis or one of the many other issues facing our state, maybe figuring out exactly what we're going to do about global warming. I just think that the Iraq War shouldn't be debated in the statehouse; that's not the right forum for it.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 5:15 PM, February 14, 2007

who cares about your stupid property taxes? 3000 of our people have died for a lie. tens of thousands have been wounded. hundreds of thousands of iraqis are dead. There's no more important issue and I'm glad our reps sent that message.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 6:50 PM, February 14, 2007

The war should be opposed on EVERY LEVEL.

Every voice counts!

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 8:10 PM, February 14, 2007

Obviously there are people in our state that have as much of a hard time differentiating between state and national issues as our legislators. War is bad, unless you've got a stock portfolio that is loaded with defense contractors. Unfortunately what matters most is not how we got there, but that we are there and our troops are in harms way till they get home.

The problem is our troops are the drain plug that prevents a power vacuum from letting the whole of Iraq drain into civil war. When we pull out it will make it more dangerous for those troops who remain, unless the situation is remedied. Unfortunately arm chair generals including those in the White House have botched things from the start, by not allowing our generals a free hand. If we leave now, we'll be fighting WWIII in the middle east within ten years. Someone will take a shot at Israel and we'll have to come to their aid.

Look at where we have troops right now, Iraq and Afghanistan, a perfect pincer around Iran. Does anyone think this is a mistake? I don't like war or the sacrifice our american patriots must make, but sometimes your best defense is a strong offense.

Point being America went to war, not Vermont. As Americans we must decide what to do about this war, because as americans we went into it. Did america enact act 60/68, no that is a state issue that we need our legislature to resolve. The problem is everyone likes to play politics and nobody gets any real work done. Its kind of like wag the dog, if I make a big scene with my right hand, no one will notice what I'm doing with my left. Political parties have their own interests at heart or they'd really do whats best for the people and get to work.

Grow up legislators, and do something to help out your state.

Rednalsi

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 10:35 AM, February 15, 2007

Maybe someone who supported this action could point out exactly what it was that legislature accomplished by passing this resolution. What difference did they make?

They said they disagree with the war. I'm pretty sure the VT state legistlature did not need to pass a resolution to let those in Washington know that; I'm pretty sure they already know. By all means bring the troops home. It's a civil war and there's not really much that the US can do now (which is very unfortunate because we created this civil war for the Iraqis), but this issue is not for the VT legislature. Do everything we can to help end the war ASAP but I don't think that this helps that cause at all and that's why I'd like to see the legislature focus on things that they can control - BINDING legislation, if you will.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 2:27 PM, February 15, 2007

Nothing is more important than getting us out of this war.

I'm proud that my legislator voted to oppose the war.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 3:46 PM, February 15, 2007

" Nothing is more important than getting us out of this war.

I'm proud that my legislator voted to oppose the war."

What did your legislator actually DO to get us out of this war?

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 11:06 AM, February 16, 2007

More than you did.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 1:21 PM, February 16, 2007

Speaking out is a powerful act. Democracy depends on it.

It was the right thing to do and I'm glad they did it.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 1:23 PM, February 16, 2007

When you write to your legislator, is your opinion "binding" ?
No.
Does it have an impact?
Yes.

This resolution wasn't binding, but it will have an impact.

This war stinks. People (ALL people) need to speak out against it.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 3:50 PM, February 16, 2007

Who really is going to notice this? I have no problem with these people speaking out but debating a resolution like this in the statehouse is just a waste of time. Let Shumlin and Symington organize a rally with members of the Congressional delegation if they want, similar to what they did with health care.

Furthermore, it's not as if the legislature is presenting a new idea on this issue. This resolution is rather similar to the one that the US House passed today. If they want to make a statement, call for cutting off funding or some action on the signing statements.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 8:21 PM, February 16, 2007

So you think that talking about the Iraq War is a waste of time but talking about signing statements isn't.

Very strange postition.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 3:13 PM, February 17, 2007

It's ok to take a stand on the Iraq war, but do it on their own time. We need them to focus on the needs of our state.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 4:09 PM, February 17, 2007

exactly.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 2:25 PM, February 18, 2007