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


4.19.2007

 

Martha makes her move

So it's finally official.

Former Vermont adjutant general and Republican Congressional candidate Martha Rainville is outa here, off to Washington to take a job as close advisor to the head of the beleaguered Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Rainville started work at her new job on Monday, according to a memo circulated among FEMA staff by her new boss, FEMA Administrator David Paulison. Her job is to recommend policy and organizational changes for the agency which, in the wake of the Hurricane Katrina disaster, the agency surely can use.

FEMA's gain is Vermont's loss, particularly from a Republican standpoint. Rainville didn't run the smartest Congressional race last year, but she was also swimming against a powerful anti-Iraq war current and running under the Republican banner in a state about as anti-Bush as any in the country. Still, Vermont Republicans don't have many potential stars on its bench, and she was one of them.

Don't hold your breath expecting she will come back and run for office anytime soon, either. She left without bothering to issue a statement to her supporters or return a phone call from a reporter. And FEMA is hardly what you'd call a stepping stone to higher office.

So long, Martha, and good luck.

-- Sam Hemingway

Comments:
Old Sam couldn't resist a last good swipe at Martha. He's about as biased with her as he is his coverage of Isle La Motte. How is it someone who doesn't go to court proceedings or public meetings has so much to say?

After the treatment he gave Martha, no wonder she didn't return his call. Your last name may be Hemingway, but that certainly doesn't give you a license to spew your lies and hate.

I hope the Freeps wakes up and realizes this armchair reporter is a hack, and a liability to their paper.
 
Martha brought a tone of civility to the campaign process that we haven't seen in a long time. I think both Democrats and Republicans alike appreciated her style, even those who didn't support her.

She and Peter Welch both ran issues based campaigns that should be the model for all future campaigns in VT. For that, we can trully thank Martha for her leadership.
 
"he was also swimming against a powerful anti-Iraq war current"

That's one way to spin it.

The truth is that she supported George Bush's failed policies.

She refused to be critical of the leadership (Rumsfeld, Cheney, Bush) that botched the invasion of Iraq.

She lost because she supported a failed ideology and Vermonters wanted someone who would stand up to Bush/Cheney.

Now, she's rewarded with a posh job and a fancy office in Washington D.C. where very little will be expected of her.

Smart cookie.
 
Words Vermonters will dread:

You're doing a heck of a job Rainy!
 
If you think this was a swipe at Rainville, then you need to get out more.
 
Rumor has it that Rep. David Clark is planning to run for Peter Welch's seat in '08
 
Cola Hudson will give him one hell of of a fight in the primary though.
 
I hear Ethan Allen's bones are also considering a run.
 
Martha Rainville was a great person and a good candidate at an incredibly unfortunate time. There was no way, given the political climate in 2006, that she was going to get a fair shot at winning. One hopes that the experience didn't completely turn her off from the poilitical process, but her unfair -- and unnecessarily personal -- trewatment by some in the media and elsewhere may have turned her off for good.

By the way, list 5 things the new/expanded Democratic majorities in DC and Montpelier have actually accomplished over the last half year (cue Jeopardy theme)....
 
She got as fair of a shot as anybody. Martha was a wash. She didn't stand for anything and was conflicted.
 
Martha supported the failed policies of GW Bush. Voters didn't. Martha lost.
 
Name 5 things Jim Douglas has actually accomplished over the last half year (cue Jeopardy theme)....
 
1) Cut 37 ribbons
2) Spoke at 64 meetings, mostly pro-business forums
3) Toured 2 or 3 disaster areas while wearing serious face
4) Evaded 467 questions at weekly press conferences, many while nervously laughing
5) Wasted $1,653 in gas (and VT taxpayer money), being chauffered across Vermont on his affordabiity tour.
 
6. Kicked the shit out of Shumlin!
 
Peter Welch would not be in Washington if for the war!
 
Martha is a dishonest person and was a lousy candidate. That is why she lost. She took money from every Republican sleaze bag in D.C. and then flip flopped mightly on the issues from the War to the environment to her supposed independence. She spent over a million dollars to tell Vermonters she was an independent and then takes a job as a Bush appointee at FEMA!!! Heck of a job Martha.
 
So where are our "independent"
progressives when it comes to big races in Vermont ------------ no where in site!
 
Martha who?
 
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