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


7.24.2007

 

Lesson from the west

Mama, don't let our Vermont politicians grow up to be this conniving:

New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer reprimanded a couple of aides and acknowledged his administration had “grossly mishandled” a situation in which aides sought to damage his political rival, Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, by planting a negative news story about Bruno.

I couldn't help but think this was a little like our Douglas-Shumlin relationship on steroids.

Spitzer's aides planted a story that Bruno had used a state helicopter for personal travel. The Attorney's General's Office concluded that the use was proper. It also concluded, according to the New York Times, that Spitzer's staff improperly used the state police to gather information about Bruno's use of state aircraft, concocting false reasons for needing the information.

Somehow, Spitzer's staff members were not fired for this, but merely suspended or transferred.

Thank goodness our politicians don't wing around in helicopters, on state business or otherwise. But the underlying disdain the two "leaders" have for each other is a hyper-version of the sort of counter-productive disdain Gov. Jim Douglas and Senate President Pro Tempore Peter Shumlin have for each other.

Let New York be a lesson to them. Don't grow up to be this juvenile.

- Terri Hallenbeck

Comments:
It seems counter productive.

But it's also what the founders of our states (and nation) wanted.

the political games keep everyone sharp and keep any one side from dominating the agenda for too long.
 
Shame that Spitzer went bad. He should be recalled.
 
I think one mistake by his aides does not justify calling for Spitzer's recall.
 
President Spitzer. Get used to the idea. It'll be sooner than you think.
 
Whatever!
 
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