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vt.Buzz ~ a political blog

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


6.20.2007

 

Postal flashback

It was like a flashback to the fall, when we were getting fliers from political candidates every day, sometimes five in a day.

There in the mail yesterday was one from Peter Welch, our just-elected congressman. It looked a lot like the campaign fliers. Pastoral picture on the cover. "Working for Vermont," it says. Open it up and there he is in jeans and checked shirt, talking to a farmer.

This time Welch says he wants to hear from constituents about the issues that matter to them. There's a card you can tear off, fill out and send in ranking your issues. It's about constituent services, which are after all the number one purpose of a member of Congress.

Don't kid yourself, though, it's also about getting re-elected. These are two-year terms, so there's no time off from campaigning. There doesn't seem to be any question Welch wants to keep the seat he fought so hard to get. It's exhausting work, he told me recently, what with the trips to Iraq and Jordan, and bouncing between Washington and Vermont, but he likes it.

Which brings us to the next question. Who will the Republicans run against Welch in '08? They are in a spot where they can't afford to give Welch a free ride and let him take easy street into a lifelong career in Washington, yet they don't have an obvious budding candidate. We've heard Randy Brock's name floated out there, but he might also want to take a legitimate stab at snaring back the auditor's job.

Who should run? Who will run? Have at it.

- Terri Hallenbeck

Comments:
I could see Brock running for the job...he might give Welch a credible run for his money: Experienced, money oriented, vows to clean up the mess in Washington in terms of finances. But he is an R and that will doom his candidacy most likely among Independents.

What about Dubie? and Douglas? I remember back in 2000 Douglas created an exploratory committee into a US House run when Bernie was thinking of taking on Jeffords.

Steve Adams? John Bloomer?
 
I think everyone got one of those cards yesterday. Very slick, and very costly. I couldn't help but notice the fine print:

"This mailing was prepared, published and mailed at taxpayer expense"

Nice to know that campaign finance laws are clearly under control.

The list of "priorities" that you can check off on the return postcard were interesting. Impeaching president Bush was not one of them. Can't wait to see the mindless babble over at GreenMountainDaily about that one. How long before they start calling for Welch's impeachment?

Since people seem to regard impeachment as the only valid mechanism for removing a public servant from office (and seem to confuse the role of state and federal governments in the process), I will add my "other" priorities to the Welch card:

1. Impeach Peter Shumlin (why? he's a dishonest, womanizing slimeball)
2. Impeach Duncan Killmartin (why? he's a right wing nutcase)
3. Appoint Snarky Boy king of Vermont
 
It will be very difficult for the R's to beat Welch in the wake of the Bush mess.

They need to come up with a Jim Jeffords clone - ideally someone who is socially liberal, fiscally conservative. Anyone with connections to the Religious Right or George Bush will be doomed.

Best bet is to find someone who isn't known to the public as a Republican. A woman would be a bonus.
 
Candidate:
Rich Tarrant

Campaign Slogan:
Because we all need a good laugh.
 
I heard that Terri Hallenbeck was running.
 
Randy Brock should run for auditor again - young Salmon has not been visible so far this year, and Brock should be able to make that race competitive, especially if he puts some of his own money into the campaign.

Anyone with R after their name will have a tough time beating Welch in 2008. The only Republican who might have a chance against Welch is Diane Snelling (famous name, liberal on social issues), but the chance of her running is close to nil.
 
Welch's most serious opponent in 2008 might not be a Republican.

Zuckerman for Congress in 2008!

Impeach Bush! Impeach Cheney! Even after they are out of office!
 
Hey, Terri - Did you raise an issue about Governor Douglas' already starting his '08 gubernatorial campaign.

1. His obsession with ribbon-cuttings is nothing more than running for re-election!

2. His hiring of 14-15 PR/communication people through out state government at a total cost of approx. $800,000 is about message and geting re-elected.

3. And, he recently sent out a FUNDRAISING letter for his next campaign.

If only the media in VT would ask the tough questions and keep asking until Governor Scissorhands actually answered the question.

Thank god for Peter Freyne!
 
First off, rumors of my campaign for Congress are greatly exaggerated. My last campaign for office was when I was at Girls State in 1978 and I think I ran for judge or something and lost badly. I think my opponent had cured cancer and solved world peace.

Secondly, we here at vt.Buzz did discuss Gov. Douglas' '08 fund-raising letter - back on May 2 in a posting called "off and running." Not to toot our horns, but we were the first to have it. You can check it out on the archives.


- Terri Hallenbeck
 
"First off, rumors of my campaign for Congress are greatly exaggerated"

Isn't that what Mark Twain said about his death? And he eventually did die. So, if we were to extend that logic to your statement, is there a Hallenbeck campaign somewhere in the distant future? :-)

No - don't see a Republican seriously challenging Welch. But - Shumlin is gearing up for a primary fight, which would be very interesting. Shumlin is the darling of the left, so he would be a serious contender in a primary race. Not to mention, Republicans would vote for Shumlin in the Democratic primary as a tacctic to set-up a race between Shumlin and an electable Republican or Independent.

Now THAT would be interesting.
 
1. Maybe Shumlin will run. Even though he'd be running against a fellow liberal Democrat. Hey, it's not about what's right for the state, or the party, it's about what's right for Shumlin.

2. Maybe Pollina will run. He's run for everything else, and lost. "Hey, have I run for Congress before?" Maybe he could spoil this race too, and get a Republican elected. In fact, if Dubie were to take on Welch for Congress, he's hire Pollina to enter the race!

3. Peter Diamondstone, Sean "Starfighter," Loyal Ploof, Craig Hill, and various other top-tier candidates will also run.
 
Notice that Terri DID NOT DENY that she is running for congress in 2008!!!!

She spun a folksy yarn about her childhood ... and was so crafty to "casually" mention that she was chosen to go to Girls State -- and we know that they only choose the smart kids for that.

She's being very evasive ... obviously trying to build a "buzz" ... which is problably why she named the blog "vt.buzz".

So tell us, Terri ... would you run as a D or as an R?
 
Don't laugh. There was a day when Peter Diamondstone and Bernie Sanders were running together, under the same flag - and Peter Diamondstone got more votes!!!

Shumlin will be Shumlin - and you can bet he's kicking himself in the ass for not hanging onto the Prez Pro-Tem spot instead of running for Lite Guv. He would be in Welch's seat right now. He's got to be burning up over that. I definately see a primary challenge next year.
 
Primary challenge?

Dream on.
 
There will be a primary challenge if Terri declares as a Democrat -- which she is likely to do, since Vermont is a blue state and she couldn't win as an R.
 
What do you think Terri? Do you see a Shumlin primary challenge to Welch?
 
Shumlin wouldn't dare jump in if Terri was in the race.

Hallenbeck for Change in '08!
 
"Randy Brock should run for auditor again - young Salmon has not been visible so far this year, and Brock should be able to make that race competitive, especially if he puts some of his own money into the campaign."


Auditor!!

whoopie!!!


Now that's a race I'm watching closely.

lol
 
Actually Terri,

You missed the point - why does the media write anything the Governor puts out on the front page - either section - when its fluff for the Governor. But when it is something that could be conceived as negative, it goes on the blog - less people read it!

Has Jason Gibbs really intimidated you, Nancy and the rest of the Vt media so much that you would not dare write anything negative about the governor?
 
Randy Brock ALWAYS uses his own money and lots of it. I hope he runs for Congress against Peter Welch because he has the money, the time and life experience for it. I hope he is exploring it.
 
Brock for Congress - I like that!!
 
The Brock (an incumbent!) lost a race for Auditor against some guy that nobody's ever heard of! It's absurd to think Brock could win a congressional election.
 
Brock did not lost that election because he wasn't the more qualified person for the job -- he was, by far. If you listed on the VPR debates to Salmon painfully try to string two words together, you'd agree.

Brock lost because the Auditor's race was at the bottom of a very long ballot. The so-called "smart Vermont voters" got to the bottom of a long ballot, and, in a year (2006) when all Vermonters hated Bush (understandably), they simply voted the "D" in the Auditor's race. It was not an informed vote. It was a reactionary vote. And it was a squeaker.

Brock might make a credible candidate for Congress.

But Welch will win. And should win. In the 2008 race, Vermonters will still be extremely pissed off at Bush, and they will not elect a Republican to federal office, even if he was Jesus Christ.
 
That is not true - vermonters can be very independent. If Brock could make the election about Vermont and not just about the war
Vermonters would vote for him. Welch only has the war going for him. Without it Rainville would have beat him.
 
Brock for Congress? OK, that might actually work.
 
But a congressional race isn't just about Vermont.

It's Vermont's only voice in the House ... he's gotta be a voice against the war. It's the main issue.

Martha didn't want to talk about the war ... look where it got her.

Brock lost his last election for Dog Catcher ... I mean, Auditor. He does not have a chance to beat Welch.
 
Shumlin wants to be Governor not
Congressman.
 
The 111th Congress will convene on January 3, 2009. That Congress would have 17 days to impeach Bush and Cheney before their terms are up.

Morrisseau for Congress!
 
No, Morrisseau for Vermont State Hospital.
 
Morrisseau has some good ideas and a great amount of honesty - I wish he could get himself elected as a Vermont legislator or senator.
 
Yeah, but he can't, because he's a nut.
 
What about Karen Kerin?
 
What about Brian Doobie?
 
Brock for Congress!
 
Well, thats something new to think about.
 
I don't think Brock would run for
congress eventhough he should.
 
Yeah, too bad.
 
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