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


7.05.2007

 

Political parades

The Fourth of July is, at its root, a political holiday. Still, in a year between elections, one might expect less politics in parades. However, where a crowd gathers, political people see opportunities.

I took in the parade in Richmond. The theme was honoring farmers -- a pretty apolitical focus. There were people dressed as cows, folks on horses, leading goats, folks handing out flowers and the usual array of fire trucks from all the neighboring towns. (I couldn't quite understand the signficance of one float with "cows that shoot" other than it offered the opportunity to shoot squirt guns at parade watchers.)

Still, between the trucks and animals, a group of Veterans for Peace marched quietly. Richmond is home to a weekly peace vigil. This small band handed out information sheets, rather than candy -- which kids and parents weren't as eager to grab.

It looked like a lot more politics played out in the parade in Waitsfield -- based on my viewing of one television clip. That's always the case. One float tried to symbolically suck up carbon polluters and folks advocated for passage of the energy bill that Gov. Jim Douglas vetoed. (The override session is set for July 11.)

It's a lot more interesting to see political issues paraded down Main Streets than political candidates -- unless candidates are creative. Of course then they run the risk of being seen as silly -- well they run that risk anyhow, don't they.

-- Nancy Remsen

Comments:
Any Shumlin impeachment floats?
 
Hi Nancy/Terri -

Just curious - do you ever read any of the other Vermont blogs? If so, which ones?
 
Sounds like no one was able to put together the "Send Scooter to the Slammer" scooter.
 
One parade featured a float with a Jim Douglas robot. Not surprisingly, parade viewers weren't able to tell any difference between the robot and the real thing.
 
I hope the Global Warming float that was trying to suck up carbon polluters was powered by bicycles - if not the irony was obvious.
 
When can we send Shumlin to the Slammer?
 
I hate how parades have become politician walk-and-wave-athons. I don't care which politician or party. They all ruin it.
 
amen to that last post, the Montpelier parade was awful this year - lots of folks were talking about it. Way too much in-your-face-don't-disagree-with-me political content, not fun for kids at all. Thank god for the Shriners in their little cars and the Starline Rythym Boys, they remember that parades are supposed to be FUN for one and all . . .
 
The Feeble 49
 
When Efficiency Vermont was first created its budget was about
$10,000,000. Within the next two years it will have grown to $32,000,000 - all funded by Vermont taxpayers. Next week the "feeble 49" (along with some independant minded democrats) will vote to save us more tax dollars to fund yet ANOTHER "Efficiency" Vermont. I know I'm not alone in thanking these people for having the guts to stand up for common sense in the face of so much rhetoric.
 
Do not override the veto.
 
Contact the Dems who voted against it and thank them and encourage them to stick to their guns.
 
Efficiency Vermont has saved us FAR more money than it has cost.

Even Douglas praises Efficiency Vermont. It's only those on the radical right that are against it.
 
"Efficiency Vermont has saved us FAR more money than it has cost."

I read this over and over yet I don't see any facts to back up that statemet - please enlighen us...
 
Ask Jim Dougals. He praises the program every chance he gets.
 
I am NOT on the far right. Not on the "right" at all, and I do not support this bill. Why not? Because it is poorly conceived and written and it is trying to kill too many birds with one stone. I agree with the governor, that we should expand the existing weatherization program, which, by the way, weatherized my house many long years ago. For over 30 years, OEO has been working with local agencies to help people weatherize. We just need to kick it up a notch! And the wind lobby needs to understand that people do not want to subsidize their industry. PERIOD.
 
"people do not want to subsidize their industry."

Yes, we do.
 
I don't mind the idea of a tax break for wind energy development. But just as much, I can't swallow the idea of a) slamming a non-carbon-emitting energy plant, and b) breaking past deals to do it.
 
I have no problem slamming a nuke plant.
 
Slam the plant
 
The plant slammers should stay at home, in the dark, and not use any electricity, ok?
 
If you want to close Vermont Yankee you should walk the walk - go off the grid.
 
Exactly. But don't just go off the grid, don't go anywhere that uses electricity, either. So don't go to your job. don't go shopping. and don't send your kids to school. just stay in your dark house and don't leave, ok? then you can proclaim that Yankee and all other non-renewable power plants should be shut down.
 
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